BOSTON / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – Researchers at Indiana University have developed a molecular test that can detect three major pathogenic fungi simultaneously and faster than traditional methods. This innovation could significantly speed up the treatment of life-threatening infections and improve diagnostic accuracy.
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Indiana University has made a significant advance in medical diagnostics by developing a molecular test that can detect three important pathogenic fungi simultaneously and faster than traditional methods. This development was presented at the recent Association for Molecular Pathology 2025 Annual Meeting in Boston. The test uses real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify genetic regions unique to each of the three fungi, bypassing the slow culture process complicated by the fungi’s ability to switch between environmental and human forms.
Histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis are infections often associated with contaminated soil and occur in various parts of the United States. These infections are often confused with other respiratory diseases, leading to a low correct diagnosis rate and delaying treatment. The new PCR test identified all samples with 100% accuracy and specificity, meaning it did not falsely flag any other fungi or contaminants.
Histoplasmosis is most common in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys and usually manifests as a lung infection in patients who have inhaled soil containing bird or bat feces. Blastomycosis, which occurs primarily in the central and southeastern parts of the United States, can also present as a lung infection but can also spread to bones, skin, and other organs. There are currently no FDA-approved molecular tests for these three pathogens, highlighting the need for rapid and reliable detection.
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, typically causes a mild infection but can lead to severe pneumonia or infections elsewhere in the body and occurs primarily in southwestern states. While additional clinical validation is underway, this test shows strong potential to fill a significant gap in fungal diagnostics. Kenneth Gavina, PhD, who led the project, emphasized that the assay could significantly improve diagnostic speed and confidence in detecting infections that have historically been difficult to detect quickly.
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