Diagnostic assay for rickettsia prowazekii disease by detection of responsive gene expression

摘要

The inventive subject matter relates to a method for the detection and diagnosis of Rickettsia prowazekii infection by measuring the increased or decreased expression of specific human genes following infection by microarray or polymerase chain reaction analysis. Gene modulation profiles can be further analyzed by computer. The method permits the early detection and diagnosis of Rickettsia prowazekii exposure and infection and diagnosis of epidemic typhus earlier than any currently available methods.