Nucleic Acid-based Compositions and Methods for the Species-Specific Detection of Pathogenic Candida Fungi

Description:

This invention pertains to the development of oligonucleotides for the rapid nucleic acid-based identification of the Candida fungi species C. haemulonii, C. kefyr, C. lambica, C. lusitaniae, C. norvegensis, C. norvegica, C. rugosa, C. utilis, C. viswanathii, C. zeylanoides, C. dubliniensis, and C. pelliculosa within biological samples. This identification is accomplished by the targeting the internally transcribed spacer-2 (ITS2) region that are specific for each species. The assay is sensitive, specific and rapid. Implementation of the technology will facilitate earlier specific diagnoses, and lead to better antifungal therapy implementation for infected patients.