Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for specifically detecting the presence or amount of a taxonomic group of organisms in a sample, said taxonomic group selected from the group consisting of species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a sample which may contain ribosomal sequence containing nucleic acids from any of the organisms of the taxonomic group to be detected with a probe which hybridizes with a subsequence of a rRNA subunit or a rRNA subunit gene that is specific to the taxonomic group of organisms under hybridization conditions, wherein the probe does not hybridize with the entire sequence of the rRNA subunit or the rRNA subunit gene, b) incubating the probe and the sample under hybridization conditions, such that the probe hybridizes with the taxon-specific rRNA subsequence but not with non-taxon-specific sequences which will prevent specific detection of said taxonomic group of organisms, and c) assaying for hybridization of the probe with the taxon-specific rRNA subsequence in order to detect the presence or amount of the taxonomic group of organisms in the sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for specifically detecting the presence or amount of a taxonomic group of organisms in a sample, said taxonomic group selected from the group consisting of species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a sample which may contain ribosomal sequence containing nucleic acids from any of the organisms of the taxonomic group to be detected with a probe which hybridizes with a subsequence of a rRNA subunit or a rRNA subunit gene that is specific to the taxonomic group of organisms under hybridization conditions, wherein the probe does not hybridize with the entire sequence of the rRNA subunit or the rRNA subunit gene, b) incubating the probe and the sample under hybridization conditions, such that the probe hybridizes with the taxon-specific rRNA subsequence but not with non-taxon-specific sequences which will prevent specific detection of said taxonomic group of organisms, and c) assaying for hybridization of the probe with the taxon-specific rRNA subsequence in order to detect the presence or amount of the taxonomic group of organisms in the sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid is rRNA.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of water, serum, dust, soil, tissue sample, tissue culture medium, cell culture, spinal fluid, urine, and blood.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said tissue sample is selected from the group consisting of liver, heart, kidney, spleen, brain, muscle, and pancreas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the probe is selected by comparing the ribosomal nucleic acid sequences of different organisms and determining a subsequence that is specific to organsims of the taxon, such that the probe can be chemically synthesized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising, before the step of contacting, the step of mixing the sample with an amount of detergent effective to release rRNA contained within the organisms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising, before the step of contacting, the step of releasing nucleic acids from organisms present in the sample, wherein the nucleic acids are not purified prior to the contacting step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the nucleic acids are not immobilized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising, before the step of contacting, the step of immobilizing the nucleic acid onto an inert support.