Human Fungal Pathogen Identification: Methods and Protocols [Paperback]

This detailed volume presents timely and authoritative content offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in fungal diagnostics. Moreover, it addresses on-going developments expected to provide a basis for targeted treatment strategies resulting in improved outcome of invasive mycoses. The knowledge of host-related predisposing factors and stratified treatment options facilitating timely onset of adequate antifungal therapy are critical for successful clinical management and outcome of invasive fungal disease (IFD), requiring not only rapid diagnosis of a fungal infection and identification of the causative species, but also assessment of pathogen/host factors related to pathogenicity, susceptibility, and response to treatment. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Part I: Introductory Chapters

1. Current Challenges in the Diagnosis of Fungal Infections

Cornelia Lass-Fl?rl

2. The Changing Epidemiology of Invasive Fungal Infections

David A. Enoch, Huina Yang, Sani H. Aliyu, and Christianne Micallef

3. Current Algorithms in Fungal Diagnosis in the Immunocompromised Host

Thomas Lehrnbecher, Karsten Becker, and Andreas H. Groll

4. Commercial Molecular Tests for Fungal Diagnolăg