9.21 Parasites and fungi

Abstract

This chapter covers a range of parasitic and fungal infections in which immunoassays play a role. The organisms included are: Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, Plasmodium falciparum, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Strongyloides, Aspergillus, Candida and endemic myoses. In each section, the etiologic agent and pathogenesis are described, followed by the principles involved in diagnosis and typical assay technology. The following diseases are included in the chapter: toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease, trypanosomiasis, trichomoniasis, malaria, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, aspergillosis, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis and coccidioidomycosis.

Contributors

Steven Binder is the Senior Director of Technical Development for the Clinical Diagnostic Group at Bio-Rad Laboratories.  He joined Bio-Rad in 1983, where he initially developed and introduced clinical chromatography methods used for catecholamine measurement and hemoglobinopathy screening.  He served Bio-Rad as R&D manager for clinical chromatography from 1988 to 1998 and was closely involved in the development of new methods for diabetes monitoring and clinical toxicology.  From 1998-2005, he led the development of a fully automated platform for multiplex immunoassay, with an emphasis on autoimmune and infectious diseases.   His current work involves the evaluation of novel multiplex and digital technologies, as well as validation and commercial development of new biomarkers.  

Steve received a B.A. in History and Science, magna cum laude, from Harvard University.  He has authored over 25 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has received 11 US patents.

Patrice Sarfati is the Microbiology R&D Manager, Clinical Microbiology Division, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes-la-Coquette, France.

Keywords

Parasites, fungi, artemisinin, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease, trypanosomiasis, trichomoniasis, malaria, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, aspergillosis, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, Plasmodium falciparum, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Strongyloides, Aspergillus, Candida, endemic myoses.