Outstanding Contributions of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Technology in Medical and Pharmaceutical Fields: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions | Chapter 4 | Medical Science: Trends and Innovations Vol. 2

In 1964, Levin and Bang first discovered that the lysate from Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) coagulated upon contact with bacterial endotoxins, and their epoch-making research findings contributed to the remarkable development of a test. Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus or Tachypleus tridentatus) blood cells. The blue blood of the horseshoe crab is a natural, irreplaceable, and precious resource that is highly valued by the biomedical industry. This review focuses on discussing the methods, progress, challenges, and future perspectives of LAL technology in the early detection and management of bacterial infections and invasive fungal diseases. LAL functions as a surprisingly sophisticated sensing system that allows for the extremely sensitive detection of bacterial and fungal cell-wall components owing to their remarkable sensitivity, quantitative accuracy and reproducibility with levels of as low as 1 pg/mL. Notably, LAL tests have markedly contributed to the quality control of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices as successful alternatives to the rabbit pyrogen test. Furthermore, LAL-based endotoxin and (1→3)- β-D-glucan (β-glucan) assay techniques are expected to have optimal use as effective biomarkers, serving as adjuncts in the diagnosis of bacterial sepsis and fungal infections. The innovative β-glucan assay has substantially contributed to the early diagnosis and management of invasive fungal diseases with a high sensitivity of 70-90% and specificity of 79-100% from many clinical performance studies; however, the clinical significance of the endotoxin assay remains unclear and is challenging to elucidate. Many obstacles need to be overcome to enhance the analytical sensitivity and clinical performance of the LAL assay in detecting circulating levels of endotoxin in human blood. Consequently, improved techniques would be especially useful in demasking and capturing LPS molecules in circulating blood. Additionally, there are complex interactions between endotoxin molecules and blood components that are attributable to the unique physicochemical properties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this regard, while exploring the potential of new LPS-sensing technologies, a novel platform for the ultrasensitive detection of blood endotoxin will enable a reappraisal of the LAL assay for the highly sensitive and reliable detection of endotoxemia.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Hiroshi Tamura
LPS Consulting Office, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan and Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.

 

Johannes Reich
Microcoat Biotechnologie GmbH, 82347 Bernried, Germany.

 

Isao Nagaoka
Faculty of Medical Science, Juntendo University, Chiba 279-0013, Japan and Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msti/v2/4059

The Prevalence of Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients | Chapter 13 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 9

 

Unexpected occurrences that have occurred recently have made it more difficult for the current population to maintain a balance of livelihood. This is because of the COVID-19, but it has also brought with it several other uncommon and extremely deadly fungal infections, like mucormycosis, which lurk beneath the surface of the virus. Under the impact of COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis, this infection causes a number of clinical disorders, the most frequent of which being rhino-cerebral illness. This condition occurs mainly in the patients with diabetes mellitus which can be extremely life threatening. Several other respiratory, gastrointestinal and cutaneous contaminations also occur during this condition. Numerous risk factors for mucormycosis exist and may coexist with the severity of the ailment. These include keto-acidosis in diabetic individuals, immunosuppressive medication users, history of pulmonary infections, and other nosocomial infections. There are no specific biomarkers available to diagnose Mucormycosis. Histopathological examination of the biopsied tissue and imaging of the involved area are most important in diagnosis. Being an anthropo invasive fungus, mucormycosis typically grows in areas with damp surfaces and decomposing and dead plant matter. Although they belong to a completely separate group, the dematiaceous fungi are referred to as "black fungus."  Since the COVID-19 pandemic is on its massive widespread in the country, the new variant being more infectious, people are more tend to some other complications of the COVID-19 contamination such as that of the secondary fungal infections causing high mortality rates. The routine has to be followed by providing the patients with proper antifungal medications and the competence of a surgical expert alongside the operative facilities. A managed and equitable distribution of the resources for the COVID-19 support has to be managed in order to decrease the fatality rates of the patients.

 

Author (s) Details

Dr. Dhruba Hari Chandi (Associate Professor)
Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Sawangi (Meghe): Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

 

Please see the book:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rudhr/v9/564 

A Curious Case of Cryptococcosis: When the Yeast Gets in the Blood and Brain Fluid | Chapter 4 | Research Advances in Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 4

 The present study focal points a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an immuno-compromised patient. Cryptococcosis is an contamination caused by Cryptococcus neoformans in immunosuppressed victims. Oral lesions associated with cryptococcosis can present as purple knots of granulation tissue, lump and ulcers. They can appear on the palate, gingiva and in the cuspid socket following in position or time extraction. Sometimes the ulcerated lesions guide Cryptococcosis can be hardened. A 50 year old female patient was confessed to Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural hospital, Loni, a country tertiary health care centre in Maharashtra; accompanying complains of on and off turmoil and weakness since about a period. Cryptococcosis, although thought-out as an AIDS defining disease, doesn’t appear to be stated less from immunocompetent patients. The study would emphasize the significance of early suspicion of cryptococcal contamination in AIDS patients; so that early organization of full lab work up and institution of antifungal analysis can be finished to improve patient outcomes.

Author(s) Details:

Vaibhav V. Rajhans,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

S. Roushani,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

D. S. Bhalerao,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

S. M. Jain,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

A. Kinikar-Vaidya,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

A. Nair,
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, India.

Vishal L. Kulkarni,
Bharatratna Atalbihari Vajpayee Medical College, Pune, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RAMB-V4/article/view/10130