Nucleotide chip containing probes against dimorphism-specific transcripts, useful for diagnosing Candida infections and transition from yeast to hyphal forms

摘要

Nucleotide chip (A) comprises a solid carrier on which is fixed at least one nucleic acid (NA) suitable for identifying a transcript of a gene that encodes a dimorphism-specific protein. Nucleotide chip (A) comprises a solid carrier on which is fixed at least one nucleic acid (NA) suitable for identifying a transcript of a gene that encodes a dimorphism-specific protein. NA is selected from: (a) one of 20 fully defined sequences as given in the specification or their fragments; (b) a sequence that encodes any of 20 specified amino acid sequences (X) as given in the specification, or their fragments; (c) the complements of (a) or (b), or their fragments; (d) a derivative of (a)-(c) having at least one base substitution, addition, inversion and/or deletion; or (e) sequences at least 80% homologous with (a)-(d), or their fragments. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) protein chip (A') in which NA is replaced by any of (X) or sequences with at least 80% homology with (X), or their fragments; (2) antibody chip (A'') containing either at least one antibody (Ab) specific for (X) or at least one antibody specific for Ab; (3) diagnostic kit for diseases caused by Candida that contains (A), (A') or (A''); (4) diagnosing diseases caused by Candida using (A), (A') or (A''); and (5) identifying agents for us against diseases caused by Candida by incubating test compounds with (A), (A') or (A'').