Novel B-DNA dermatophyte assay for demonstration of canonical DNA in dermatophytes: Histopathologic characterization by artificial intelligence.

Journal: Clinics in dermatology
Published Date: Jan 1, 2024

Abstract

We describe a novel assay and artificial intelligence-driven histopathologic approach identifying dermatophytes in human skin tissue sections (ie, B-DNA dermatophyte assay) and demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of dermatophytes in tissue using immunohistochemistry to detect canonical right-handed double-stranded (ds) B-DNA. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-ds-B-DNA monoclonal antibodies with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues to determine the presence of dermatophytes. The B-DNA assay resulted in a more accurate identification of dermatophytes, nuclear morphology, dimensions, and gene expression of dermatophytes (ie, optical density values) than periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Grocott methenamine silver (GMS), or hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains. The novel assay guided by artificial intelligence allowed for efficient identification of different types of dermatophytes (eg, hyphae, microconidia, macroconidia, and arthroconidia). Using the B-DNA dermatophyte assay as a clinical tool for diagnosing dermatophytes is an alternative to PAS, GMS, and H&E as a fast and inexpensive way to accurately detect dermatophytosis and reduce the number of false negatives. Our assay resulted in superior identification, sensitivity, life cycle stages, and morphology compared to H&E, PAS, and GMS stains. This method detects a specific structural marker (ie, ds-B-DNA), which can assist with diagnosis of dermatophytes. It represents a significant advantage over methods currently in use.

Authors

  • Claude E Gagna
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Dermatology, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. Electronic address: cgagna@nyit.edu.
  • Anthony N Yodice
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Juliana D'Amico
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Lina Elkoulily
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Shaheryar M Gill
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Francis G DeOcampo
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Maryam Rabbani
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Jai Kaur
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Aangi Shah
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Zainab Ahmad
    Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
  • Muriel W Lambert
    Departments of Dermatology and of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
  • W Clark Lambert
    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Dermatology, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

Keywords

External Resources

Popular Topics
Recent Journals