PCR Detection of Microbial Pathogens

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an increasingly important tool in microbial diagnosis in recent years, mainly because of its rapidity, high sensitivity, and specificity. In a number of instances, parti- larly with noncultivatable and slow-growing microorganisms, reliable iden- fication and differentiation became possible only after the introduction of PCR-based methods. Because the number of published procedures is large and steadily rising, there is a need for critical evaluation, comparison of performance, and even- ally also standardization of methods to enable laboratory diagnosticians to select the optimal methodology. PCR Detection of Microbial Pathogens is designed to provide an ov- view of the possibilities and problems connected with the use of PCR-based identification and detection of important bacterial and other microbial pat- gens, among them several zoonotic agents. It is intended to provide micro- ologists and biochemists the opportunity to extend their knowledge of state-of-the-art detection procedures, as well as pre-PCR sample processing and various general aspects of PCR. The chapters of this volume have been written by investigators well conversant with molecular detection and iden- fication of microorganisms. They have contributed their extensive practical experience to the protocols, not only concerning PCR methodology itself, but also the highly important area of pre-amplification sample processing.