Rapid PJP Detection System
Pneumocystis pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects people with weakened immune systems. Tulane researchers are creating a new approach that aims to solve a significant challenge by a new and non-invasive diagnostic approach for PJP.
The Problem
Diagnosing Pneumocystis pneumonia often requires invasive procedures, which are difficult for many patients. Existing tests also struggle to tell the difference between an active infection and harmless colonization. This makes treatment decisions more complicated. A more accurate and less invasive way to detect this illness is needed so doctors can diagnose and treat it faster and with greater confidence.
The Solution
Tulane researchers are building a better diagnostic test for a dangerous lung infection called Pneumocystis. It uses CRISPR technology to detect the infection from non-invasive samples like throat swabs. It also shows whether someone is sick or just carrying the organism.
The Opportunity
This technology could be used in the clinical diagnostics and infectious disease testing industry, particularly in settings where accurate, minimally invasive detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is critical. Hospitals, clinical laboratories, and point-of-care testing providers would benefit from a more sensitive and less invasive diagnostic tool for PJP, especially for immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or undergoing organ transplantation. In addition, companies developing next-generation molecular diagnostics and CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms could integrate this assay into their offerings to expand their respiratory pathogen testing panels.
