Team:Goettingen/project overview/current tools
From 2014.igem.org
Project
Background
The diagnostic tools currently employed to detect fungal pathogens:
The diagnostic methods employed to diagnose fungal infections at present vary in performance and each type of pathogen has a greater proclivity for being detected by some tests than others. However, microscopy has always been the mainstay as far as diagnosis of fungal infections is concerned. We look forward to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of conventional microscopy through enhanced specificity and visibility through the application molecular biology.Nevertheless,the following table was compiled from Fungal Infection Thrust.
Fungal infection | Diagnostic technique | |||||
Microscopy | Agar culture | Xrays/scans | Antigen | Blood antibody | DNA detection | |
Thrush | +++ | +++ | - | - | - | - |
Candida bloodstream | - | +++ | + | + | + | +++ |
Candida abdominal | + | +++ | + | - | - | - |
Cryptococcal meningitis | ++ | +++ | + | +++ | - | - |
Invasive aspergillosis | + | + | +++ | ++ | - | ++ |
Chronic aspergillosis | + | + | +++ | - | +++ | ++ |
Allergic aspergillosis | + | + | ++ | - | +++ | + |
Coccidioidomycosis | + | ++ | ++ | - | +++ | - |
Histoplasmosis | + | ++ | + | ++ | - | - |
Zygomycosis | +++ | + | ++ | - | - | - |
Resource: http://www.fungalinfectiontrust.org/diagnosis.htm