Biochips mit Dimorphismus-spezifischen Faktoren aus Candida albicans

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft Biochips, insbesondere Nucleotid-Chips, die Dimorphismus-spezifische Candida-Proteine codierende Nucleinsaeuremolekuele enthalten, Protein-Chips, die Dimorphismus- spezifische Candida-Proteine enthalten, und Antikoerper-Chips, die gegen die Dimorphismus-spezifischen Candida-Proteine gerichtete Antikoerper enthalten, diese Biochips enthaltende diagnostische Zusammensetzungen, Verfahren zum Diagnostizieren von Candida-verursachten Krankheiten und Verfahren zum Auffinden und Identifizieren von Substanzen, die gegen Candida-verursachte Krankheiten therapeutisch wirksam sind.

DE 10142743 A UPAB: 20030522 NOVELTY - 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. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - 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''). ACTIVITY - Antifungal. No supporting data. MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given. USE - (A), and related protein and antibody chips, are used for diagnosis of diseases caused by Candida, particularly localized or systemic infections by C. albicans and to screen for agents that may be useful in treating such diseases. ADVANTAGE - (A) provides a quick and exact diagnosis of infection by C. albicans, including differentiation between the yeast and hyphal forms and early detection of a transition between these forms, or can identify therapeutic agents that are free of side effects. It is suitable for use in high throughput screening.