Evaluation of MucorGenius® Real-Time PCR Assay for Mucormycosis Diagnosis: A Comparative Analysis

Ajbani, Kanchan; Shetty, Siddhant; Chaudhry, Saleha; Tatkare, Ekta; Gaonkar, Harshala; Basu, Shaoli; Rodrigues, Camilla; Shetty, Anjali

doi:10.22034/cmm.2026.345408.1665

Evaluation of MucorGenius® Real-Time PCR Assay for Mucormycosis Diagnosis: A Comparative Analysis

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

Kanchan Ajbani

Siddhant Shetty

Saleha Chaudhry

Ekta Tatkare

Harshala Gaonkar

Shaoli Basu

Camilla Rodrigues

Anjali Shetty

Department of Microbiology, P D Hinduja hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.

10.22034/cmm.2026.345408.1665

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Mucormycosis, a formidable invasive fungal infection linked to Mucorales fungi, poses a significant threat to individuals. Rapid initiation of suitable antifungal therapy within five days of diagnosis has shown a noteworthy reduction in mortality rates, emphasizing the critical importance of timely identification. However, the diagnostic landscape is marred by the limited sensitivity of routine tools, including direct examination, histology, and culture. In this context, this study aimed to scrutinize the diagnostic performance of the commercially available pan-mucorales real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, MucorGenius® (Pathonostics), on both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary specimens. Its efficacy was compared with that of conventional mycology methods to address the pressing need for more accurate and timely mucormycosis diagnosis.
Materials and Methods: In total, 27 clinical specimens were included in the study, 17 of which were obtained from patients clinically suspected to have invasive mucormycosis. The remaining 10 specimens were from patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis, who had no evidence of fungal infection; these served as non-fungal controls and were included specifically to assess assay specificity. The DNA extraction from all samples was performed using the Qiagen DNA minikit, and real-time PCR was conducted with the MucorGenius^® kit, targeting Rhizomucor spp., Lichtheimia spp., and Mucor/Rhizopus spp.
Results: Of the 27 clinical cases, 17 were classified as either proven or probable mucormycosis based on EORTC/MSGERC criteria. The MucorGenius® PCR assay demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 76.47% and a specificity of 100% for detecting mucormycosis.
Conclusion: The MucorGenius® Real-Time PCR assay exhibited promising diagnostic performance for mucormycosis, particularly in cases eluding conventional methods. Its sensitivity and specificity make it a valuable tool for early diagnosis, aiding clinical intervention in patients with a high index of suspicion.

Keywords

Fungal Infections

Molecular Diagnostics

Mucorales

Mucormycosis

Real-Time PCR

Subjects