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PCR methods in clinical investigations of human ureaplasmas: a minireview
Tarah T Colaizy1, Theresa Kuforiji, Ronald S Sklar
1Department of Pediatrics, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Abstract:
Human ureaplasmas are small, cell-wall-deficient organisms that are implicated in many human infections. Due to their small size and fastidious growth requirements, ureaplasmal infections are hard to diagnose clinically, and ureaplasmal disease is difficult to study in clinical samples. Standard culture methods for ureaplasmas are technically challenging, and 3 to 5 days are required to identify this pathogen. PCR methods have been increasingly used in the diagnosis of these infections and in the study of this pathogen in human specimens from multiple sites. These methods have theoretical advantages over traditional culture methods. Organism identification can occur in the presence of low numbers of bacteria, and viability is not necessary. Rapid identification of organisms within 24 h is also possible. In addition, subtyping of isolates can be performed faster with PCR methods than with culture methods. The use of PCR methods in translational research in multiple human ureaplasmal diseases will be reviewed in this paper, and their usefulness will be compared to culture methods.
Insights
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offers a faster and more sensitive method for diagnosing human ureaplasma infections compared to traditional culture. This technique aids in studying ureaplasmal disease, overcoming limitations of older diagnostic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Human ureaplasmas are cell-wall-deficient bacteria linked to various human infections.
- Clinical diagnosis of ureaplasmal infections is challenging due to organism size and difficult cultivation.
- Traditional culture methods for ureaplasma are time-consuming (3-5 days) and technically demanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosing and studying human ureaplasmal infections.
- To compare the efficacy and advantages of PCR methods against standard culture techniques for ureaplasma detection.
- To highlight the utility of PCR in translational research for multiple human ureaplasmal diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on PCR-based methods for ureaplasma detection in human specimens.
- Comparison of PCR diagnostic capabilities (sensitivity, speed, viability independence) with traditional culture.
- Analysis of PCR's role in subtyping ureaplasma isolates and its application in translational research.
Main Results:
- PCR methods enable rapid identification of ureaplasmas within 24 hours, significantly faster than culture.
- PCR can detect low bacterial numbers and does not require organism viability, enhancing diagnostic sensitivity.
- PCR facilitates faster subtyping of ureaplasma isolates compared to culture-based methods.
Conclusions:
- PCR represents a significant advancement over traditional culture for the diagnosis and study of human ureaplasmal infections.
- The speed, sensitivity, and independence from viability make PCR a valuable tool for clinical and research settings.
- PCR methods are crucial for advancing translational research in various human diseases associated with ureaplasmas.
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