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  6. Real-Time PCR Assays for Genotyping of Cryptococcus Gattii

Real-Time PCR Assays for Genotyping of Cryptococcus Gattii

Description

This technology utilizes mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) panel for genotyping Cryptococcus gattii. MAMA, a form of allele-specific PCR, uses primers that are designed for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification. Oligonucleotide primers target the DNA sequence that is specific to each type of Cryptococcus gattii.

Additional information

Patent number and inventor

9,994,917 and 16/005,012

David Engelthaler, Elizabeth Driebe, Erin Kelley, and Paul Keim.

Potential applications

Clinical applications to conduct clinical and epidemiological studies.

Benefits and advantages

Cryptococcus gattii caused a fungal outbreak in British Columbia and has spread through Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. Genotyping of Cryptococcus gattii is essential to understand the ecological and geographical expansion of this fungal pathogen that results in cryptococcosis. Individuals who are immunocompromised are susceptible to the fungal pathogen.

Current methods for genotyping Cryptococcus gattii require extensive laboratory work that is not easily transferable between laboratories. In addition, some of the methods are expensive and cost-prohibitive for public health labs. This technology provides cost-efficient, rapid, and sensitive means to genotype Cryptococcus gattii using MAMA. In addition, the technology could be easily transferred among laboratories. Assay results are based on real-time PCR cycle threshold values, leading to objective analysis. The assay would assist with the process of regularly genotyping Cryptococcus gattii isolates for both clinical and epidemiological response purposes.

Case number and licensing status

2014-020

This invention is available for licensing.