You are here

Antigen Immunoassay for Diagnosis of Coccidioidomycosis

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43AI102377-01
Agency Tracking Number: R43AI102377
Amount: $586,503.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: NIAID
Solicitation Number: PA11-096
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2700 TECHNOLOGY PL
NORMAN, OK -
United States
DUNS: 99550915
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 SEAN BAUMAN
 (405) 360-4669
 sean-bauman@immy.com
Business Contact
 SEAN BAUMAN
Phone: (405) 360-4669
Email: sean-bauman@immy.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides spp. that infects an estimated 150,000 people each year in the United States. Current diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis relieson detection of anti-coccidioidal antibodies in patient sera. However, the sensitivity of this serological assay is particularly low in the first few weeks of illness. A promising strategy to improve early diagnosis of Coccidioides infections is to detect specific protein antigens from Coccidioides which are shed into urine or serum. However, antigenuria/antigenemia-based diagnostic assays for coccidioidomycosis are not yet available, resulting in a critical need for the development of this type of diagnostic. The goal of this project is an immunoassay that will use serum or urine as a sample to diagnose coccidioidomycosis. Our overall hypothesis is that protein biomarker targets are shed into the urine or serum of Coccidioides-infected mice. The approachwill be the use of scFv phage display technology to facilitate the identification of Coccidioides biomarkers in urine and serum from Coccidioides-infected mice. The product will be an immunoassay in the lateral flow assay (LFA) or enzyme immunoassay (EIA)format in order to facilitate earlier diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. Criteria for success of this Phase I SBIR would be the identification and validation of at least one protein biomarker from the urine or serum of Coccidioides-infected mice. If the goals of this Phase I project are achieved, a Phase II application will use the protei biomarker(s) and/or antibody(s) generated from this Phase I project to construct and evaluate an immunoassay in LFA or EIA format. If successful, this translational researchproject could dramatically decrease the morbidity and health care costs associated with coccidioidomycosis through earlier diagnosis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Coccidioidomycosis is a common and sometimes life-threatening, fungal infection which is difficult to diagnose early due to its symptomatic similarit to viral and bacterial infections. This is a translational research study whose initial goal is to identify biomarkers that are shed into the urine or serum of Coccidioides-infected mice with the ultimate goal of developing an immunoassay that will facilitate earlier diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. If successful, this project could dramatically decrease the morbidity and health care costs associated with coccidioidomycosis through earlier diagnosis.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government