Catalytic nucleic acid probes as microbial indicators
AssigneeMcMaster University
InventorsYingfu Li, M. Monsur Ali, Sergio D. Aguirre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a method of generating catalytic nucleic acid probes useful for detecting microorganisms such as bacterial pathogens. In one embodiment, the catalytic nucleic acid probes are fluorogenic DNAzymes. The disclosure also relates to catalytic nucleic acid probes and methods of using the probes for detecting microorganisms.
Claims27
A method of generating a catalytic nucleic acid probe for detecting a microorganism, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting a plurality of candidate nucleic acid molecules with a microorganism target, wherein each of the candidate nucleic acid molecules comprises a variable region of nucleic acid sequence and a constant region of nucleic acid sequence comprising a detectable substrate, wherein the detectable substrate is detectable only upon cleavage of the detectable substrate, and
- (b) detecting the candidate nucleic acid molecule which (i) interacts with the microorganism target and (ii) has catalytic activity to cleave the detectable substrate upon interaction with the target, thereby generating a detectable signal,
- wherein the detected candidate nucleic acid molecule is a catalytic nucleic acid probe.
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A catalytic nucleic acid probe for detecting a microorganism, wherein the catalytic nucleic acid probe comprises a first nucleic acid region that (i) interacts with a microorganism target and (ii) has catalytic activity to cleave a detectable substrate upon interaction with the target, thereby generating a detectable signal.
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19-24. (canceled)
A method of detecting a microorganism in a sample comprising:
- exposing the sample to a catalytic nucleic acid probe, wherein the catalytic nucleic acid probe (i) interacts with a microorganism target and (ii) cleaves a detectable substrate upon interaction of the catalytic nucleic acid probe with the target thereby generating a signal that indicates the presence of the microorganism in the sample.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.