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Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Wai C Lo

Roger A Laine

Chitinase fungal diagnostic reagents comprising a chitinase conjugate comprising a chitinase enzyme and a label, the label selected from among a flourescent or a radioactive compound, an enzyme and a dye, the said chitinase fungal diagnostic reagent comprises a substantially pure aqueous solution of said chitinase conjugate; kits for detecting a fungal cell wall glucosamine compound in a biological specimen comprising the chitinase fungal diagnostic reagent and a filter capable of collecting the fungal cell wall glucosamine compound; and methods for detecting a fungal cell wall glucosamine compound in a biological specimen.

Diagnosis of fungal infections with a chitinase

A method is presented for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples, and, if present, determining their antibiotic sensitivity, where the presence and amount of eubacteria or fungus is measured by means of catalytically inactive murein binding enzymes in both parts of the method. The sensitivity of eubacteria or fungus to a test antibiotic is obtained by comparing the amount of eubacteria or fungus in the sample after culturing the sample in the presence and absence of the test antibiotic. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.

Detecting eubacteria and fungus and determining their antibiotic

A method for detecting eubacteria in biological samples with catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme is presented. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.

Method for detecting eubacteria in biological samples with catalytically

A novel method for detecting chitin, and for diagnosing fungal infections (including yeast infections), with a chitinase or other chitin-specific binding protein. This method should allow the convenient, broad spectrum diagnosis of fungal infections in tissue samples or in body fluids. Fungal infections are a particular problem in immunocompromised hosts such as AIDS patients, where they can cause opportunistic infections. This invention overcomes difficulties experienced by prior methods of diagnosing fungal infections.

Growing community of inventors

Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Wai C Lo