Probes targeted to rRNA spacer regions, methods and kits for using said probes, for the detection of respiratory tract pathogens

US6025132A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Innogenetics N.V. · BE

Inventors

• Geert Jannes · Kessel-Lo, BE
• Rudi Rossau · Ekeren, BE
• Hugo Van Heuverswyn · Laarne, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 1996
• Grant date: Feb 15, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Q2600/16
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for detection and identification of at least one microorganism, or for the simultaneous detection of several microorganisms in a sample, comprising the steps of: (i) if need be releasing, isolating or concentrating the polynucleic acids present in the sample; (ii) if need be amplifying the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region, or a part of it, with at least one suitable primer pair, (iii) hybridizing the polynucleic acids of step (i) or (ii) with at least one and preferably more than one of the spacer probes as mentioned in table 1a or equivalents of thereof, under the appropriate hybridization arid wash conditions, and/or with a taxon-specific probe derived from any of the spacer sequences as represented in FIGS. 1-103 under the same hybridization and wash conditions; (iv) detecting the hybrids formed in step (iii) with each of the probes used under appropriate hybridization and wash conditions; (v) identification of the microorganism(s) present in the sample from the differential hybridization signals obtained in step (iv).