System and method for inhibiting the decryption of a nucleic acid probe sequence used for the detection of a specific nucleic acid
First Claim
1. A method of masking the identity of a detection sequence on a nucleic acid molecule comprising:
- (a) obtaining a detection nucleic acid molecule comprising a known detection sequence; and
(b) associating with said nucleic acid molecule a first masking nucleic acid molecule comprising a first masking sequence, wherein the masking sequence varies from the detection sequence at one or more positions and thereby masks the identity of the detection sequence.
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Abstract
Sequence-specific nucleic acid hybridization assays are used for the detection of specific genetic sequences as indicators of genetic anomalies, mutations, and disease propensity. In addition, they are used for the detection of various biological agents and infectious pathogens. Because a complementary probe or nucleic acid sequence is required to detect a sequence of interest in a hybridization-based assay, nucleic acid sequencing techniques can rapidly determine the specific probe sequence being used for detection. This allows reverse engineered assays to be produced rapidly. In addition, it enables the circumvention of hybridization-based assays for biological agent or infectious pathogen detection by providing the information necessary to create or alter nucleic acid sequences to produce false positives or false negatives. The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the identification of specific detection sequences. More specifically, the invention provides masking sequences that mask the identity of specific detection sequences.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method of masking the identity of a detection sequence on a nucleic acid molecule comprising:
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(a) obtaining a detection nucleic acid molecule comprising a known detection sequence; and
(b) associating with said nucleic acid molecule a first masking nucleic acid molecule comprising a first masking sequence, wherein the masking sequence varies from the detection sequence at one or more positions and thereby masks the identity of the detection sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of performing a hybridization reaction comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a hybridization probe, which comprises a hybridization sequence designed to hybridize to a target sequence;
(b) providing a first masking nucleic acid molecule that comprises a first masking sequence, wherein the masking sequence of the first masking nucleic acid molecule varies from the hybridization sequence at one or more positions, and further wherein the first masking nucleic acid molecule has a reduced ability or inability to hybridize to the target;
(c) performing a hybridization reaction comprising the hybridization probe and the first masking nucleic acid molecule in the presence of the target sequence under conditions permitting the selective hybridization of the hybridization probe to the target sequence. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A composition comprising:
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(a) a detection nucleic acid molecule comprising a known detection sequence; and
(b) a first masking nucleic acid molecule comprising a first masking sequence, wherein the masking sequence varies from the detection sequence at one or more positions and thereby masks the identity of the detection sequence. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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- 44. The composition of 36, further comprising a second masking nucleic acid molecule, wherein the second masking nucleic acid molecule comprises a second masking sequence that varies from the detection sequence and the first masking sequence at one or more positions.
Specification