Genera Biosystems Limited

The University of Melbourne

Karl Frederick Poetter

Brendan Toohey

Paul Charles Mulvaney

Daniel Jonathan Park

Zaheer Khan

Toby Gould

Simon Foote

Nick Vandegraaff

Edin Nuhiji

Andrew Patrick Wildenberg

Paul Mulvaney

Methods for screening a multiplicity of respiratory pathogens by isolating nucleic acids from a sample include isolating a nucleic acid from a sample and using solid phase amplification with forward primers SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 or 33 or 35 and corresponding reverse primers SEQ ID NOs: 17 to 32 or 34 or 36 along with probes to generate amplicons. The method further includes employing bead sets which are homogenous with respect to bead size and optionally with respect to the intensity of the label. Binding of a particular amplicon to a subset of beads determines the identity of the respiratory pathogen.

Compositions and methods of detecting respiratory pathogens using nucleic acid probes and subsets of beads

The present invention relates generally to methods for generating single stranded nucleic acid molecules following enhanced solid phase polynucleotide amplification. The present invention employs an amplification reaction using primers with differential priming properties at particular annealing conditions or an immobilized primer nested between two aqueous phase primers. Thus, by primer design, solid support primer participation is enhanced relative to aqueous phase primers. The subject invention further provides methods for labeling solid matrices with single and double stranded nucleic acid molecules. Kits for generating single stranded nucleic acid molecules and for conducting amplification reactions also form part of the present invention. The present invention further provides amplification systems for the generation of single stranded nucleic acid molecules optionally labelled with a reporter molecule and their use inter alia as labels, primers and probes.

Generation of nucleic acid molecules

A biosensor for detecting the presence of a target analyte is disclosed. The biosensor is formed from microspheroidal particles which have had a binding partner for the target analyte immobilized on their surfaces. The binding partners may be nucleotides; peptides, proteins, enzymes, antibodies and so on. When the analyte binds to its partner, the whispering gallery mode (WGM) profiles of the micro spheroidal particles change such that the profile peaks undergo a red- or blue-shift. The immobilized binding partners may include fluorophores and the like so that they emit fluorescence, phosphorescence, incandescence and the like. These fluorophores may take the form of a nanocrystal or quantum dot.

Biosensor using whispering gallery modes in microspheres

The present invention relates generally is a method for determining the likelihood that a test polynucleotide sequence differs from a driver polynucleotide sequence. More particularly, the present method uses fluorescence-based technology in the assessment of the results of competitive hybridization between polynucleotide sequences. The present method does not require nucleotide sequencing or gel electrophoresis and is capable of being multiplexed and automated. The methods of the present invention will find broad application in the analysis of polynucleotides, inter alia in genetic analysis, specific locus testing, genotyping, mutation detection, the discovery and detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mapping.

Method for determining the likelihood that a test polynucleotide sequence differs from a driver polynucleotide

A rapid and sensitive analyte detection assay is based on whispering gallery modes of fluorescently labelled microspheroidal particles. Ligands for the analyte, such as nucleic acids, are anchored to the particles. The fluorescent labels may comprise fluorophores or quantum dots. In the latter case, the particles may comprise melamine formaldehyde. The assay may be used to detect analytes in aqueous samples.

Analyte detection assay

The present invention relates generally to the field of diagnostic and detection assays. More particularly, the present invention provides methods, and reagents including biochips for detecting the presence of, or distinguishing between, one or more analytes in a sample.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) detection using nucleic acid probes, microbeads and fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS)

The present invention relates generally to the field of diagnostic and detection assays. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and reagents including biochips for detecting the presence of, or distinguishing between, one or more analytes in a sample.

Oligonucleotide amplification primers for targeting oncogenic HPV

The anchoring system generally comprises a solid support and a chemical linking moiety useful for ether formation with another chemical moiety on a nucleic acid molecule. The present invention further contemplates methods for anchoring a nucleic acid molecule to a solid support via a covalent linkage. The anchoring system of the present invention is useful inter alia in construction of nucleic acid arrays, to purify nucleic acid molecules and to anchor nucleic acid molecules so that they can be used as templates for in vitro transcription and/or translation experiments and to participate in amplification reactions. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use with microspheres and the preparation of microsphere suspension arrays and optical fiber arrays. The anchoring system permits the generation of an anchored oligonucleotide for use as a universal nucleic acid conjugation substrate for any nucleic acid molecule or population of nucleic acid molecules. The present invention further provides a kit useful for anchoring nucleic acid molecules or comprising nucleic acid molecules already anchored to a solid support.

Nucleic acid anchoring system comprising covalent linkage of an oligonucleotide to a solid support

The present invention provides a method for the detection and sorting of microparticles in a mixture of microparticles. The method of the present invention allows for the detection and sorting of many distinct microparticle classes. Detection and sorting is on the basis of microparticle size, the fluorescence spectrum of any attached reporter molecule, the fluorescence intensity of the reporter molecule, and the number of particles in each classification bin. These microparticle classes have particular applications in many genetic or biochemical multiplexing studies and especially as binding agents for the detection of aneuploidy in an organism or embryo of the organism. In humans, the detection and sorting of at least 24 classes of microparticles would be sufficient for a single tube method for the simultaneous detection of aneuploidy in all chromosomes, wherein each distinct microparticle class comprises a polynucleotide sequence complementary to, and specific for, a polynucleotide sequence that is unique to a particular human chromosome. Furthermore, using currently available technology, the present method has application for the simultaneous detection of aneuploidy in all chromosomes for an organism that has 216 or fewer pairs of chromosomes. Kits for the simultaneous detection of aneuploidy in one or more human chromosomes are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Northcote, Australia

Karl Frederick Poetter