Methods for Detection of a Single- or Double-Stranded Nucleic Acid Molecule

A method for the detection of a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a strand comprising a sequence of nucleotides in a sample, whereby the method comprises the following steps:

• h) providing a sample containing the nucleic acid molecule;
• whereby a strand of the nucleic acid molecule consists of a first part and a second part;
• i) providing a capture probe;
• j) providing a first bridging probe, whereby a first part of the first bridging probe is at least partially complementary to the capture probe and a second part of the first bridging probe is at least partially complementary to the first part of said a strand of the nucleic acid and whereby when the second part of the bridging probe is hybridized to the first part of said a strand of the nucleic acid, the second part of the strand forms an overhang;
• k) providing a second bridging probe comprising a first part and a second part, whereby the first part of the second bridging probe is at least partially complementary to the second part of said a strand of the nucleic acid, and allowing the second bridging probe to hybridise to the overhang formed in step c);
• l) providing a detection probe, whereby the detection probe is at least partially complementary to the second part of the second bridging probe and comprises a detection means, and allowing the detection probe to hybridize to the second part of the second bridging probe;
• m) ligating one end of said a strand of the nucleic acid to one end of the detection probe and/or the other end of the respective strand to one end of the capture probe;
• and
• n) detecting whether or not the capture probe and/or the detection probe is/are ligated to said a strand of the nucleic acid provided in step a).

A method for the detection in a sample of a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising a first strand and a second strand, whereby the method comprises the following steps:

• a) providing a sample containing the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule;
• b) providing a capture probe, whereby the capture probe is at least partially complementary to a part of either the first strand or the second strand of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule and is immobilzable to a support,
• c) providing a detection probe, whereby the detection probe is at least partially complementary to a part of either the second strand or the first strand of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule and provides for a detection means;
• d) allowing the sample and more specifically the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule contained therein, the capture probe and the detection probe to react;
• and
• e) detecting whether the detection probe is attached to the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule and the capture probe is attached to the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule.