Zepto Life Technology today announced the publication of a new Journal of Fungi case series featuring the FungiFlex® platform in the evaluation of complex Pneumocystis jirovecii infections.
The publication, led by investigators at the University of Minnesota, describes several immunocompromised patients with confirmed pulmonary infection, suspected extrapulmonary infection, colonization, and non-fungal illness. Together, the cases highlight one of the most difficult questions in infectious diseases: when is a detected fungus actually causing disease?
Key Findings
- FungiFlex® was positive in a patient with confirmed Pneumocystis pneumonia.
- FungiFlex® was positive in a patient with suspected extrapulmonary Pneumocystis infection.
- FungiFlex® was negative in a patient with Pneumocystis colonization.
- FungiFlex® was negative in a patient whose illness was ultimately attributed to a non-fungal process.
Why This Matters
Patients with weakened immune systems often develop symptoms that can be caused by infection, inflammation, medication effects, or other medical conditions. Even when a fungal organism is detected, clinicians must determine whether it is actively causing disease or simply present without causing harm.
The cases described in this publication illustrate how plasma fungal cfDNA testing may provide additional information in challenging diagnostic scenarios and support clinical decision-making in highly immunocompromised patients.
The publication also reflects Zepto’s ongoing efforts to expand the FungiFlex® platform beyond invasive mold infections to additional clinically important fungal pathogens, including P. jirovecii.
About the Study
The study, titled Extrapulmonary and Other Pneumocystis jirovecii Infections Diagnosed via Fungal Cell-Free DNA Using Giant Magnetoresistance Detection, was published in the Journal of Fungi on June 15, 2026.
The work was conducted through a collaboration between investigators at the University of Minnesota and Zepto Life Technology.
Publication Information
Article: Extrapulmonary and Other Pneumocystis jirovecii Infections Diagnosed via Fungal Cell-Free DNA Using Giant Magnetoresistance Detection
Authors: Jo-Anne H. Young, Karam M. Obeid, Minggan Li, Hannah Sweet, Jacob Panten, Tiffany J. Huwe, Xiaoying Liu
Journal: Journal of Fungi
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12060435
About Zepto Life Technology
Zepto Life Technology is a molecular diagnostics company developing targeted liquid biopsy diagnostics for infectious diseases using proprietary Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) biosensor technology. The company’s Zepto MDx platform is designed to enable highly sensitive detection and identification of pathogens directly from blood, beginning with invasive fungal infections.