Assay for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis

Abstract

A primer pair that includes a forward primer and a reverse primer is used to amplify a nucleic acid from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair and nail infection that includes SEQ ID NO: 22. A nucleic acid capable of hybridizing specifically to a nucleic acid sequence from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair and nail infection that includes SEQ ID NO: 22 is provided. A carrier that includes the nucleic acid is provided. A method can be used to detect in a sample a nucleic acid sequence including SEQ ID NO: 22 from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair and nail infection. The primer pair, the nucleic acid, or the carrier may be useful for the diagnosis of a disease. A kit including the primer pair, the nucleic acid, and/or the carrier may be useful for the diagnosis of a disease.

1 . A primer pair, comprising:
 a forward primer; and   a reverse primer,   wherein the primer pair is capable of amplifying a nucleic acid from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection comprising SEQ ID NO: 22.   
     
     
         2 . A nucleic acid capable of hybridizing specifically to a nucleic acid sequence from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 or its complementary strand or a vector or cell comprising said nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
         3 . A nucleic acid, comprising:
 the primer pair according to  claim 1 ; and   between the forward and the reverse primer, the nucleic acid sequence from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection located in the pathogen's genome between the sequences of the forward and the reverse primer.   
     
     
         4 . The primer pair according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a detectable label.   
     
     
         5 . A carrier, comprising:
 the nucleic acid according to  claim 2 .   
     
     
         6 . The carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the carrier is a silane coated glass, plastic, or silicon material microarray plate. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 detecting in a sample a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising:
 a) providing a sample, preferably nail, hair or skin material, from a patient,   b) amplifying any nucleic acid comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 present in the sample using the primer pair according to  claim 1 , thus generating an amplicon if a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection is present in the sample.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 c) detecting the amplicon.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the amplicon is detected by fluorescence, radioactivity, colloidal gold, or chemiluminescence. 
     
     
         11 . A kit, comprising:
 the primer pair according to  claim 1 ,   a nucleic acid according to claim capable of hybridizing specifically to a nucleic acid sequence from a pathogen associated with a skin, hair, and nail infection comprising SEQ ID NO: 22 or its complementary strand or a vector or cell comprising said nucleic acid sequence; and/or   the carrier comprising the nucleic acid.   
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 manufacturing the kit according to  claim 11 .   
     
     
         13 . The primer pair according to  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is a fungus. 
     
     
         14 . The primer pair according to  claim 13 , wherein the pathogen is from the genus  Trichophyton.    
     
     
         15 . The primer pair according to  claim 14 , wherein the pathogen is from the group comprising  T. tonsurans, T equinum, T. interdigitale, T. benhamiae  (african),  T. benhamiae  (yellow),  T. concentricum  and  T. erinacei.    
     
     
         16 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence between the forward and reverse primer is obtained by amplifying a sample comprising said pathogen using the primers according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The primer pair according to  claim 4 , wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent, radioactive, colloidal gold, or enzymatically active label.