Abstract: Provided herein are Nocardia farcinica-specific primers comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1-39. Provided herein is a polynucleotide represented by SEQ ID NO:41 and SEQ ID NO:40. Further provided is a method of identifying a Nocardia farcinica infection in a subject with the primer identified by SEQ ID NO:1-39, or detecting the presence of a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:40 or SEQ ID NO:41. Also provided is and a method of identifying Nocardia farcinica infection in a subject by amplifying DNA from the subject using a Nocardia farcinica-specific primer comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39. Further provided is a kit for identifying Nocardia farcinica comprising a Nocardia farcinica-specific primer comprising SEQ ID: NO:1-39 and a kit for identifying Nocardia farcinica comprising a Nocardia farcinica specific primer capable of amplifying SEQ ID NO:41.

Abstract: Provided is an isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequences defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID Nos:5-9. These are the ITS2 sequences for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. A method of diagnosing systemic candidiasis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting blood from the subject into tubes containing detergent, polypropylene glycol, sodium poyantholesulfonate, and sodium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; (b) lysing Candida cells using ZYMOLYASE.RTM.-100T.TM.

Abstract: Provided is an isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequences defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID Nos: 5-9. These are the ITS2 sequences for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. A method of diagnosing systemic candidiasis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting blood from the subject into tubes containing detergent, polypropylene glycol, sodium poyantholesulfonate, and sodium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; (b) lysing Candida cells using ZYMOLYASE.RTM.-100T with agitation; (c) extracting and precipitating the DNA from the lysed cells; (d) amplifying the precipitated DNA using universal fungal primer pairs derived from the internal transcribed spacer regions of the Candida ribosomal DNA; and (e) detecting amplified DNA from Candida by hybridizing the amplified DNA with a probe that selectively hybridizes with Candida DNA, the presence of amplified DNA indicating systemic candidiasis.

Abstract: Provided is an isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequences defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID Nos:5-9. These are the ITS2 sequences for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. A method of diagnosing systemic candidiasis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting blood from the subject into tubes containing detergent, polypropylene glycol, sodium poyantholesulfonate, and sodium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; (b) lysing Candida cells using ZYMOLYASE.RTM.-100T with agitation; (c) extracting and precipitating the DNA from the lysed cells; (d) amplifying the precipitated DNA using universal fungal primer pairs derived from the internal transcribed spacer regions of the Candida ribosomal DNA; and (e) detecting amplified DNA from Candida by hybridizing the amplified DNA with a probe that selectively hybridizes with Candida DNA, the presence of amplified DNA indicating systemic candidiasis.

Abstract: Provided is an isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequences defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID NOs: 5-9. These are the ITS2 sequences for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. A method of diagnosing systemic candidiasis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting blood from the subject into tubes containing detergent, polypropylene glycol, sodium poyantholesulfonate, and sodium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; (b) lysing Candida cells using ZYMOLYASE.RTM.-100T with agitation; (c) extracting and precipitating the DNA from the lysed cells; (d) amplifying the precipitated DNA using universal fungal primer pairs derived from the internal transcribed spacer regions of the Candida ribosomal DNA; and (e) detecting amplified DNA from Candida by hybridizing the amplified DNA with a probe that selectively hybridizes with Candida DNA, the presence of amplified DNA indicating systemic candidiasis.

Abstract: Provided is an isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID NO:5. This is the C. albicans ITS2 sequence and includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that is specific for Candida albicans. Further examples of an isolated double stranded nucleic acid of the present invention consist essentially of the nucleotide sequences defined in the Sequence Listing by SEQ ID NOs:6-9. These are the ITS2 sequences for C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. A method of diagnosing systemic candidiasis in a subject is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting blood from the subject into tubes containing detergent, polypropylene glycol, sodium polyanetholesulfonate, and sodium ethylene diamine.RTM. tetraacetic acid; (b) lysing Candida cells using ZYMOLYASE.RTM.