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  6. Method of Differentiating Coccidioides Species

Method of Differentiating Coccidioides Species

Description

The technology provides methods and kits to identify and differentiate between Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, which cause valley fever. The methods involve the addition of oligonucleopeptides to mixtures containing nucleic acid isolated from a sample (e.g., soil, air, water, human tissue, and foodstuffs), followed by nucleic acid amplification of the mixture. Based upon targeted canonical single-nucleotide polymorphisms (canSNPs), the assay differentiates the two species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with high specificity.

Additional information

Patent number and inventor

12/764,833

Kelly Sheff, David Engelthaler, Elizabeth Driebe, and Paul Keim.

Potential applications

Clinical applications to provide targeted treatment for valley fever.

Benefits and advantages

While real-time PCR-based assays have been developed, the assays are unable to differentiate one Coccidioides species from another. The inventors identified several canSNPs that differentiate the two species, allowing for rapid differentiation of the species in epidemiological studies. The canSNPs have conserved characters that mark pivotal evolutionary points found in related phylogenetic groupings.

Microsatellite analysis to differentiate Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii is costly and time-consuming. This assay identifies the two species rapidly and inexpensively. Identification of the different Coccidioides species will allow for the study of differing pathology, clinical outcome, and treatment options.

Case number and licensing status

2009-008

This invention is available for licensing.