DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC IMMUNE MARKERS FOR CRITICAL INFECTIONS
Researchers at UCSF have discovered novel biomarkers for respiratory infections.
Respiratory infections, like pneumonia, bronchitis, and viral illnesses, are a major global health problem, ranging from mild colds to serious conditions that require hospitalization. Infections in the lungs, especially pneumonia, are a leading cause of death and hospital stays, particularly for children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. These infections can sometimes lead to sepsis, a dangerous condition where the body’s response to infection damages its own organs and can quickly become life-threatening. Sepsis often develops rapidly and requires urgent treatment, and recovery can result in lasting health effects. Despite medical advances, diagnosing these infections and predicting outcomes remains difficult, as current tests can be slow or inaccurate, highlighting the need for faster and more reliable tools to guide treatment.
Stage of Research
This invention details biomarkers for diagnosis of respiratory infection and/or sepsis. Briefly, specific biomarkers are measured by obtaining a biological sample from subject using an ELISA or other biomarker detection method. Subsequently, concentrations of several separate biomarkers in specimens are collated and a probability score is calculated to indicate how likely a subject is to develop a lower respiratory tract infection and/or sepsis. This method has the potential to indicate the severity of sepsis, classify the infection into clinically relevant disease groups, estimate the subject's survival rate, and predict the likelihood of benefit from specific treatments (such as corticosteroids) based on the expression profile.
Applications
Advantages
Stage of Development
Research- in vitro
Technology Reference
CZ Biohub ref. no. CZB-342F
UCSF ref. no. SF2025-232
Keywords
Sepsis, diagnosis, respiratory