Lead Inventors: Paul Lizardi, Ph.D. Fred Russell Kramer, Ph.D. Donald R Mills, Ph.D.
DNA Sequence Detection Probe for Medical, Diagnostic, and Forensic Analysis
The ability to detect specific DNA sequences is useful in medical, diagnostic, and forensic settings. One method is to use a small probe to bind a target DNA sequence. This method is highly specific but its utility is dependent on being able to rapidly detect and identify the specific probe. Rapid amplification of the probe after hybridization would allow rare targets to be easily identified in a sample.
RNA Probe with Recognition Sequence for Rapid, Precise Amplification
This invention is an assay suitable for detecting very small amounts of RNA or DNA. The RNA polymerase, Q-beta replicase, is capable of auto-catalytically replicating RNA, creating as many as 109 copies of each probe in a single 30-min incubation. The Q-beta replicase only recognizes a specific sequence with a secondary and tertiary structure that allows the activity of the replicase. Adding this recognition sequence to a RNA probe makes it possible to rapidly synthesize large amounts of that probe. Using this technology the hybridization of the probe to its complimentary sequence, followed by a stringent wash out of unhybridized probe and then amplification of the will allow the rapid detection of extremely small amounts of DNA or RNA.
Applications:
• HIV or retroviral detection
• RNA or DNA detection
Advantages:
• Rapid amplification of probe
• Addition of recognition sequence makes probe amplification precise
• Incubations can be carried out at 37°C
Patent Status: Patents Issued (US 5,503,979; US 6,420,539) ~ see links below.
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing
Publications: Kramer FR, Lizardi PM. Amplifiable hybridization probes. (1990) Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 48(6):409-11.