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Gliotoxin and bis(methylthio)gliotoxin are not reliable as biomarkers of invasive aspergillosis
Author(s) -
Mercier Toine,
Reséndiz Sharpe Agustin,
Waumans Dieter,
Desmet Koen,
Lagrou Katrien,
Maertens Johan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/myc.12967
Subject(s) - gliotoxin , galactomannan , aspergillus fumigatus , bronchoalveolar lavage , aspergillus , aspergillosis , immunoassay , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , lung , gastroenterology , immunology , chemistry , pathology , biology , antibody
Summary Background Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains a life‐threatening opportunistic infection, but can be difficult to diagnose. New biomarkers are therefore needed. Gliotoxin (GT), a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus fumigatus , and bis(methylthio)gliotoxin (bmGT), a degradation product of GT, have been proposed as potential biomarkers. However, these findings have yet to be confirmed. Objectives To identify the diagnostic potential of GT and bmGT in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) in haematology patients compared to galactomannan (GM). Materials and methods We prospectively collected culture supernatant, serum and BALf from patients with culture‐positive IPA and measured GT and bmGT concentrations using ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. Galactomannan was detected using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay. Results We included 18 patients with proven (n = 6) and probable (n = 12) IPA, all with positive cultures for Aspergillus fumigatus . BmGT was only detected in serum from one patient (5.6%), whereas GM was positive (optical density ≥ 0.5) in 11/18 patients (61.1%, P = 0.002). We could not find GT in any serum sample. In BALf, bmGT was detected in 8/18 patients (44.4%) and GT in 9/18 patients (50%), compared to GM (optical density ≥ 1.0) in all patients (100%). Conclusions Gliotoxin and bis(methylthio)gliotoxin had a very poor performance for diagnosing IPA. As other biomarkers are more sensitive and easier to detect, we would not recommend serum or BALf GT/bmGT to be used in the diagnosis of IPA.