Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41784380›Full record

ArticleClinical chemistry2026

A Culture-Free Lipidomics-Based Screening Test for Uropathogens.

Linda K Nartey, Mert Pekcan, Jun Liu, Victor Yuen, Pamela Kibsey, Robert K Ernst, David R Goodlett, Michael X Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical chemistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Linda K NarteyDepartment of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1402-4073
Mert PekcanFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Jun LiuDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Victor YuenDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Pamela KibseyDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Robert K ErnstDepartment of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States.
David R GoodlettDepartment of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Michael X ChenDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Funding

MS Diagnostic Bacterial Identification LibraryR01AI147314 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI ERNST, ROBERT K, GOODLETT, DAVID ROBINSON · 2020 to 2024
$2.3M
International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program 2219NIH HHS R01AI147314Technological Research Council of TurkeyVictoria Hospitals Foundation Catalyst
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA rapid culture-free method is needed to improve diagnostic efficiency and guide timely antimicrobial therapy for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Previously, we utilized the lipidomics-based fast lipid analysis technique (FLAT) to screen for uropathogens by identifying distinctive microbial membrane lipid profiles, specifically lipid A in gram-negative and cardiolipin in gram-positive bacteria. This culture-free assay demonstrated high sensitivity (94%) in detecting gram-negative bacteria but poor sensitivity (51%) for gram-positive bacteria.

methodsIn this study, we pretreated urine pellets with lysozyme prior to FLAT analysis to break down the peptidoglycan layer bacteria, thereby promoting the efficient release of cardiolipin. The limit of detection (LOD) for 4 gram-positive bacteria and Escherichia coli was evaluated using contrived samples with known CFU/mL values and varying concentrations of lysozyme. Subsequently, we validated the optimized method in a clinical cohort of 76 urine samples known to contain gram-positive bacteria as confirmed by urine culture.

resultsOptimal sensitivity was achieved by treating 1 mL of urine pellets with 100 µg lysozyme and incubating for 60 minutes, resulting in a 100-fold increase in cardiolipin LOD and a 95% detection rate for gram-positive bacteria. Signal-to-noise ratio for lipid A was also improved. Polymicrobial urine cultures with gram-negative and gram-positive species were identified in 2 patients.

conclusionsThe lysozyme-enhanced FLAT assay enables rapid and culture-free detection of both gram-negative and gram-positive uropathogens directly from urine. The unified workflow decreases the analytical turnaround time by at least 90% making it well-suited for high-throughput clinical laboratories.

Indexed as

Gram-Negative BacteriaGram-Positive BacteriaLipidomicsUrinary Tract InfectionsCardiolipinsEscherichia coliHumansLimit of DetectionMuramidaseCardiolipinsMuramidase

Identifiers

PMID41784380
PMCPMC13017057

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