Background
Candidiasis, also known as a yeast infection (or thrush), is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a type of yeast that normally lives on the skin and in the body. While Candida is usually harmless, it can cause problems when it multiplies excessively, leading to infections in various parts of the body.
Yeast are single-celled microorganisms of Kingdom Fungi, which contain many important pathogens that cause candidiasis. The yeast species most commonly associated with invasive candidiasis include Nakaseomyces glabratus [formerly Candida glabrata), Pichia kudriavzevii [formerly Candida krusei]), Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis, which are all listed on the WHO's inaugural fungal priority pathogens list and contribute to 50-90% of all cases of candidiasis in humans.
N. glabratus is generally a commensal of human mucosal tissues, but can cause intractable invasive infections, particularly in people with underlying risk factors such as immunodeficiency, diabetes, or those who have received broad-spectrum antibiotics or chemotherapy. N. glabratus is often the second or third most common cause of candidiasis as an opportunistic pathogen.
C. albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora, but can become pathogenic, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Candidiasis is, for example, often observed in HIV-infected patients. C. albicans is also the most common fungal species isolated from biofilms. There are relatively few drugs that can successfully treat C. albicans-associated candidiasis, but some common treatments include amphotericin B, echinocandin, or fluconazole for systemic infections, nystatin for oral and oesophageal infections, and clotrimazole for skin and genital yeast infections.
Technology overview
This invention provides a method of treating or preventing yeast colonization, infection or infestation. This patented technology is directed to the need to provide improved detection of pathogenic yeast of Nakaseomyces glabratus, Pichia kudriavzevii, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and/or Candida dubliniensis by nucleic acid sequence amplification. Detection may also include hybridization with respective probes specific for Nakaseomyces glabratus, Pichia kudriavzevii, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and/or Candida dubliniensis.
Benefits
- Improved detection of pathogenic yeast
- A new method of treating or preventing Candidiasis or thrush
- A molecular method for the differentiation between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans having important clinical and epidemiological utility
Intellectual Property
An Australian provisional patent application No. 2024904129 titled “Yeast Nucleic Acid Detection” was filed on 13 December 2024. Prior art searches have not revealed any documents or patents indicating prior discovery of the methodology. It is intended that patent protection will be sought in the major western markets including the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.
Applications
- Treatment and prevention of yeast colonization, infection or infestation of an animal or plant
Commercial opportunity
UniSC is seeking a commercialisation partner for the development and deployment of the Technology, in the target applications.
The commercialisation strategy for this technology is to develop a kit comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid primers or probes respectively comprising the identified nucleotide sequences, or respectively comprising nucleotide sequences at least 70% identical thereto or a fragment thereof, and optionally one or more other components selected from the group consisting of:
- a thermostable DNA polymerase
- a reverse transcriptase; and
- one or more detection reagents.
Brief note on scientific founders
Associate Professor Erin Price– is a microbiologist, molecular geneticist, and co-lead of the Pathogen-Omics lab team at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). The Pathogen-Omics team investigates the transmission, antibiotic resistance potential, prevalence, and evolution of bacterial pathogens affecting humans, with a focus on pathogens associated with chronic respiratory diseases. Associate Professor Price has a keen interest in applying microbial genomics and transcriptomics to better understand, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases. She has extensive experience using comparative genomics to develop inexpensive, sensitive, and accurate real-time PCR diagnostic assays to target important microbes and their antimicrobial resistance potential.
Dr Derek Sarovich– is currently an Advance Queensland Fellow who joined UniSC in mid-2017 as a Senior Research Fellow. Derek is a molecular microbiologist and bioinformatician and is interested in antibiotic resistance, bacterial pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, genomics and transcriptomics. Derek works closely with several clinically focused collaborators to bring next-generation sequencing technologies to the clinical realm, with a focus on improved treatment and diagnostics of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, particularly those with high morbidity and mortality.
Contact
For further information concerning the commercial opportunity please contact:
Michael Finney – Commercialisation Advisor