Quick and Accurate Detection of Pathogens
Infections of the central nervous system or CNS are often serious and sometimes deadly and yet, determining which pathogen is causing the infection remains challenging. To find whether a virus or bacteria is the cause of someone’s brain inflammation, doctors need a tissue sample, grow it in the lab, and then test it to identify it. Often the tests involve using antibodies of known pathogens.
We have technology that gets around having to grow the sample, but it also only works if we have a good guess of what’s causing the infection. It’s like trying to identify a criminal only if you already know who they are!
Today, we know the cause of just half of all CNS infections, making them tough to treat. However, scientists have developed a test called mNGS or metagenomic next-generation sequencing.
Using cerebrospinal fluid, the test can simultaneously detect a range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in just hours. Researchers took 7 years to develop the test and then checked its effectiveness on nearly 5,000 samples. Among the hundreds of positive samples, nearly 800 organisms were identified. Because it scans all genetic material, it can detect rare pathogens, making it valuable for diagnosing mystery infections. The downside is that at $3,000, only patients in rich countries can afford the test for now.
More Information
Metagenomics Next Generation Sequencing (mNGS): An Exciting Tool for Early and Accurate Diagnostic of Fungal Pathogens in Plants
In this review, we focus on how mNGS technology, including metabarcoding, is applied for detecting fungal pathogens and its promising developments for the future.
Seven-year performance of a clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing test for diagnosis of central nervous system infections
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an agnostic method for broad-based diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections.
The Real-World Clinical Impact of Plasma mNGS Testing: an Observational Study
Plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) testing is a promising diagnostic modality for infectious diseases, but its real-world clinical impact is poorly understood. We reviewed patients who had undergone plasma mNGS at a general hospital to evaluate the clinical utility of plasma mNGS testing.