DIAGNOSIS OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS WITH A CHITINASE

摘要

A novel method for detecting chitin, and for diagnosing fungal infections (including yeast infections), with a chitinase or other chitin-specific binding protein. This method allows the convenient, broad spectrum diagnosis of fungal infections in tissue samples, body fluids, and other samples. Fungal infections are a particular problem in immunocompromised hosts such as AIDS patients, where they can cause opportunistic infections. This invention overcomes difficulties experienced by prior methods of diagnosing fungal infections.