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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
Visualization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa within the Sputum of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Published on: July 16, 2020
Molecular identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa recovered from cystic fibrosis patients
Objective:
Precise identification of various morphotypes of Pseduomonas aeruginosa which developed during cystic fibrosis (CF) is of prime importance. We aimed to identify the isolates of P. aeruginosa recovered from CF patients at the genus and species level through primers targeting oprI and oprL genes via PCR.
Methods:
Sputum samples or throat swabs were taken from 100 CF patients and plated on cetrimide agar. All suspected colonies were primarily screened for P. aeruginosa by a combination of phenotypic tests. Molecular identification of colonies was performed using specific primers for oprI and oprL genes.
Results:
Based on phenotypic tests, P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 40% of CF patients. Forty isolates yielded amplicon of oprI gene using genus-specific primers confirming the identity of fluorescent pseudomonads. However, 37 of 40 isolates yielded amplicon of oprL gene using species-specific primers, verifying the identity of P. aeruginosa.
Conclusion:
This study showed that the species-specific PCR targeting oprL gene can be used as accurate test for identification of highly adaptable P. aeruginosa in CF patients. This procedure may provide a simple and reliable method for identification of various morphotypes.
Insights
Accurate identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is crucial. A PCR method targeting the oprL gene effectively identifies P. aeruginosa morphotypes in CF patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
- Identifying different morphotypes of P. aeruginosa is essential for understanding its adaptation and persistence in CF lungs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a precise molecular method for identifying P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients.
- To differentiate P. aeruginosa at the species level using genus- and species-specific primers.
Main Methods:
- Samples from 100 CF patients were cultured on cetrimide agar.
- Suspected colonies underwent phenotypic screening for P. aeruginosa.
- Molecular identification was performed using PCR with primers targeting the oprI (genus) and oprL (species) genes.
Main Results:
- Phenotypic tests identified P. aeruginosa in 40% of CF patients.
- Genus-specific primers (oprI) confirmed 40 isolates as fluorescent pseudomonads.
- Species-specific primers (oprL) verified 37 of these isolates as P. aeruginosa.
Conclusions:
- Species-specific PCR targeting the oprL gene is an accurate method for identifying P. aeruginosa in CF patients.
- This PCR-based approach offers a simple and reliable way to identify diverse P. aeruginosa morphotypes in this population.
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