METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS

摘要

This invention is directed to methods of diagnosing fungal infections through the detection of distinct regions of the genome of pathogenic fungi. A first region of the genome is the 5S rRNA gene of such fungal organisms. This region is a conserved region for all pathogenic fungal organisms and its presence in a clinical sample is diagnostic of a fungal infection but not diagnostic of the species of fungi present. The second region of the genome is the non-transcribed spacer region of the rRNA repeat unit of such fungal organisms. This region is species-specific for each pathogenic fungal organism and its presence in a clinical sample is diagnostic of infection by that fungal organism. The methods of the invention provide for the detection of either or both genomic regions, as well as for the extraction of genomic DNA from fungal organisms. Also provided are nucleic acid probes and primers which bind to the distinct genomic regions, as well as diagnostic kits including such probes and/or primers.