Immunological Testing Advances in Mycology, Parasitology, Mycobacteria, and Zoonotic Disease Detection
Overview
This paper examines contemporary immunological testing methodologies for infectious disease diagnosis, focusing on advances in mycology, parasitology, and mycobacteria detection. It discusses serological tests, nucleic acid amplification techniques, and proteomic approaches as replacements for traditional culture methods, while also defining zoonotic diseases and their transmission routes including direct contact, indirect contact, and vector-borne pathways.
What this coursework covers
- Newer serological tests for mycology including ELISA, lateral flow assay, and complement fixation tests with rapid diagnostic capabilities
- Parasitology testing innovations with NAATs, RDTs, and proteomic approaches for detecting protozoan and helminth infections
- Mycobacteria testing advancements using MRI, CT scans, and direct microscopic examination as alternatives to fungal culture
- Zoonosis definition and transmission mechanisms including direct contact, indirect contact, foodborne, waterborne, and vector-mediated pathways
Preview
Immunology
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Immunology
Discussion 1: Direct Antigen Testing of infectious diseases
Newer tests for mycology and parasitology
Some f the newer tests for mycology are serological tests, which include Agglutination Immunodiffusion (ID), Complement fixation test (CFT), Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Lateral flow assay (LFA), Counter immuno-electrophoresis (CIE) Radio immunosorbent assay (RIA). Serological tests are often done to illustrate antigens or antibodies in serum or other fluids in the body that is suspected of having been infected by bacteria. This test is gaining popularity in mycology because the results are often rapid and they also act as prognostic indicators (Wang et al., 2020)
Some of the newer tests in parasitology include nucleic acid amplification tests, NAATs, proteomic approaches, and simple and rapid diagnostic tests, RDTs. NAATs are more immediate and accurate. It is used to detect protozoan and helminths. RDPs are considered cheap and simple and are base on immunochromatography. The proteomic approach is the most recent one that uses spectrometry platforms in identifying the biomarkers, thus revealing the interactions of the complex host-pathogenic to differentiate active and cured diseases or diseases and infections (Bottieau, 2015).
Newer tests for mycobacteria
The newer tests for mycobacteria include radiology and direct examination. Radiology testing uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and high-resolution CT scans to detect pulmonary and extrapulmonary invasive IFIs, including aspergillosis. Direct Microscopic Examination of Clinical Specimen includes the examination of microbiological samples like the India ink and KOH.