Methods for the qualitative and quantitative detection of microbes in a sample

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for the qualitative and absolute quantitative detection of microbes in a sample. The present invention quantifies microbes according to their original abundance in the sample. The present invention relates to methods for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of structural diversity of different communities (such as bacterial, fungal, archeal, parasites, viruses etc.). In this regard, the method can include providing a plurality of microbial profiles, wherein each microbial profile is established from a sample of microorganisms obtained from an individual subject. The method can also include identifying one or more consensus profiles from among the plurality of microbial profiles. The present invention relates to methods for the simultaneous qualitative and/or absolute quantitative analysis of functional genes. These methods can be used more specifically to characterize normal, disturbed and pathological microflora in vaginal samples from non-pregnant and pregnant women and to determine preterm risk. These methods can be used to diagnose e. g. bacterial vaginosis among others infection related pathologies and to be used in prevention preterm delivery. Moreover, the present invention also relates to distinctive kits for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of microbes/microbial profiles adapted to specific areas of medicine (e.g. vaginosis), food and pharmaceutical production, environmental and ecology studies, forensic matters and life sciences including a specified kit for vaginal samples.