Reagents derived of diverse fungi pathogens were available.

Aspergillus (ASP)

Aspergillus is a genus of around 200 fungi found worldwide. Unlike yeasts, which are single coccobacilli cells, Aspergilli are filamentous fungi (molds) made of chains of cells, called hyphae. Its natural habitat is in hay and compost.

Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pietro Antonio Micheli. Viewing the fungi under a microscope, Micheli was reminded of the shape of an aspergillum (holy water sprinkler), and named the genus accordingly.

Some Aspergillus species cause serious disease in humans and animals, and can be pathogenic. The most common causing invasive disease are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. The most common causing allergic disease are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus clavatus. Other species are important as agricultural pathogens. Aspergillus spp. cause disease on many grain crops, especially maize, and synthesize mycotoxins including aflatoxin.

Antibody

Kits

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Candida albicans (CAN)

Candida albicans is a diploid sexual fungus (a form of yeast), and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and vaginal infections in humans. Systemic fungal infections (fungemias) have emerged as important causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). In addition, hospital-related infections in patients not previously considered at risk (e.g. patients on an intensive care unit) have become a cause of major health concern.

C. albicans is among the many organisms that live in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Under normal circumstances, C. albicans lives in 80% of the human population with no harmful effects, although overgrowth results in candidiasis. Candidiasis is often observed in immunocompromised individuals such as HIV-positive patient. Candidiasis also may occur in the blood and in the genital tract. Candidiasis is commonly known as "thrush", and is a common condition that is usually easily cured in people who are not immunocompromised. To infect host tissue, the usual unicellular yeast-like form of Candida albicans reacts to environmental cues and switches into an invasive, multicellular filamentous form.

Antibody

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Genotyping

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Chlamydia (CHL)

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman's reproductive organs. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur "silently" before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia also can cause discharge from the penis of an infected man.

Antibody

Antigen

ELISA

Genotyping

Rapid Tests

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Mycoplasma (MYC)

Mycoplasma infection is respiratory illness caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a microscopic organism related to bacteria but lacking a cell wall. The organism is larger than a virus but smaller than a bacterium, thus it is called an "Atypical" bacteria.

Mycoplasma infection is usually diagnosed on the basis of typical symptoms. A nonspecific blood test (cold agglutinins) is helpful in diagnosis, but is not always positive.

Serology (blood) tests are usually positive after the fifth day of illness. The use of more specific laboratory tests is often limited to special outbreak investigations. Sputum cultures are not usually done. The smear of sputum may show a predominance of monocyte type cells (initially neutrophiles) after symptoms have been present for several days which is suggestive.

Antibody

Antigen

Kits

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