2024
A low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva
Peno C, Lin T, Hislop M, Yolda-Carr D, Farjado K, York A, Pitzer V, Weinberger D, Bei A, Allicock O, Wyllie A. A low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva. Microbiology Spectrum 2024, 12: e00591-24. PMID: 39028185, PMCID: PMC11370248, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00591-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDetection of pneumococciDetection of pneumococcal carriagePneumococcal carriageCarriage surveillanceLow-resource settingsChildren attending childcare centersCarriage of pneumococciDNA extractionSaliva samplesMolecular methodsCultural enrichmentImprove surveillance effortsQPCR-based protocolPneumococcal vaccineExtraction-free methodMolecular detectionNucleic acid extractionVaccination strategiesPneumococciCulture-enrichment methodExtraction-free protocolPurified DNASalivaPaired samplesCarriage
2023
The potential of saliva as an accessible and sensitive sample type for the detection of respiratory pathogens and host immunity
Laxton C, Peno C, Hahn A, Allicock O, Perniciaro S, Wyllie A. The potential of saliva as an accessible and sensitive sample type for the detection of respiratory pathogens and host immunity. The Lancet Microbe 2023, 4: e837-e850. PMID: 37516121, DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00135-0.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsSARS-CoV-2Respiratory pathogensPotential of salivaUsefulness of salivaUse of salivaRespiratory specimenRespiratory secretionsDisease burdenImmunological componentsImmunity surveillanceClinical utilityHost immunityClinical useDiagnostic testsNon-invasive natureSalivaCOVID-19 pandemicSample typesMethodological factorsPathogensImmunitySecretionPooled RNA-extraction-free testing of saliva for the detection of SARS-CoV-2
Allicock O, Yolda-Carr D, Todd J, Wyllie A. Pooled RNA-extraction-free testing of saliva for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Scientific Reports 2023, 13: 7426. PMID: 37156888, PMCID: PMC10165292, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34662-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2RT-qPCR assaysSARS-CoV-2 testingVirus-infected individualsAged care facilitiesSelf-collected salivaSARS-CoV-2 spreadActionable time frameAsymptomatic individualsTest turnaround timeHealthcare workersGeneral populationCare facilitiesTest availabilityWeekly testingFree testingClinical salivaPositive agreementClinical laboratoriesSalivaCT valuesSuch testingTesting workflowIndividual testingTesting protocol