Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria
08:34

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2021

rmpM gene as a genetic marker for human bacterial meningitis

S K Dash1, M Sharma, S Khare

  • 1Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR), Mall Road, Delhi-110007, India.

Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy-Le-Grand, France)
|January 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis, a potentially lethal infection, can now be rapidly detected. A new PCR test identifies Neisseria meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid within 80 minutes, improving diagnosis for this serious brain infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
  • Bacterial meningitis, particularly Neisseria meningitidis, poses a significant lethal threat if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
  • Current diagnostic methods for meningitis have limitations, necessitating faster and more accurate detection techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a rapid and specific diagnostic method for bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis.
  • To utilize the virulent rmpM gene as a genetic marker for Neisseria meningitidis detection.
  • To establish a molecular diagnostic assay for direct detection in patient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Main Methods:

  • Development of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay using specific primers targeting the rmpM gene.
  • Direct detection of Neisseria meningitidis from patient CSF samples.
  • Analysis of amplicon specificity and homology.

Main Results:

  • A rapid PCR-based detection method for Neisseria meningitidis was successfully developed.
  • The assay provides confirmation of bacterial meningitis within 80 minutes.
  • The 308 bp amplicon of the rmpM gene demonstrated no homology with other organisms, confirming its specificity.

Conclusions:

  • The developed PCR assay offers a quick and accurate diagnostic tool for bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis.
  • The rmpM gene serves as a reliable genetic marker for identifying this specific bacterial meningitis pathogen.
  • This molecular diagnostic approach has the potential to significantly improve the timely management of bacterial meningitis.

More Related Videos

Novel RNA-Binding Proteins Isolation by the RaPID Methodology11:19

Novel RNA-Binding Proteins Isolation by the RaPID Methodology

Published on: September 30, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...