Oligonucleotides inhibiting candida germ tube formation

Abstract

Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment and diagnosis of Candida infections. In accordance with preferred embodiments, oligonucleotides are provided which are specifically hybridizable with at least a portion of a Candida mRNA. Preferred targets are the mRNAs which encode .beta.-tubulin, aspartate protease, actin and chitin synthetase, as well as the mRNA's which encode the ribosomal L25 protein, translation elongation factors 1 and 2 (TEF1 and TEF2), the b subunit of ATPase, and cytochrome P450 lanosterol 14.alpha.-demethylase (L1A1). The oligonucleotides comprise nucleotide units sufficient in identity and number to effect said specific hybridization. In other preferred embodiments, the oligonucleotides are specifically hybridizable with a transcription initiation site, a translation initiation site, 5'-untranslated sequences, 3' untranslated sequences, 5' cap, and intron/exon junction of the mRNAs. Methods of treating animals suffering from Candida infection are disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.