Sensitivity of real-time NASBA assay for fungi. B: pan-Candida probe, C: pan-Aspergillus probe
Invention Summary: Fungal infections are as significant cause of mortality and morbidity when not rapidly diagnosed and treated. However, the current standard of care for diagnosis is blood culture, a method limited by the time to diagnosis (1-2 days), frequency of false negatives, and the difficulty in culturing certain fungi. The emergence of drug-resistant fungi adds an additional obstacle to effective treatment. While molecular assays have enabled rapid, sensitive diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections, a lack of standardized, commercially available assays has limited their application to fungal infections. Rutgers researchers have developed PCR primers for detection of specific fungal species and detection of mutations associated with echinocandin-resistant fungi, enabling diagnosis within one hour. By allowing immediate administration of the most effective anti-fungal drugs, these assays would greatly improve outcomes for fungal infections Market Applications:
Advantages:
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Issued and pending patents. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. Select Publications: