Devices for generating detectable polymers

• US 20080124710A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric K. Engelhard
• Original Assignee: Eric K. Engelhard
• Inventors: Engelhard, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US11/548,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20080124710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/686 Polymerase chain reaction [PCR]
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/701 Specific hybridization probes

Abstract

This document provides systems, devices, and methods involved in generating detectable polymers. For example, diagnostic systems, diagnostic devices, primer systems, and collections of primer systems are provided.

Claims

1. A device comprising a housing having a plurality of locations, wherein each of said locations contains a primer system, wherein the primers of each primer system are between 18 and 28 nucleotides in length and have a theoretical melting temperature between 58°

C. and 62°

C., wherein said device comprises at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an H1 target, at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an H2 target, at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an H3 target, at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an H5 target, at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an N1 target, and at least one primer system capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for an N2 target, and wherein each amplification product, when produced, is between 100 and 400 nucleotides in length.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said locations is a chamber.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said locations is a well.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein two or more of said locations comprise two or more primer systems.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein each primer system of said two or more primer systems of a location is capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for a different target of influenza A viruses.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the primers of each primer system are between 23 and 27 nucleotides in length.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the primers of each primer system have a theoretical melting temperature between 59°

C. and 61°

C.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises additional locations, wherein each of said additional locations contains a primer pair.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein at least one of said additional locations comprises a primer pair capable of producing an amplification product from human nucleic acid.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said locations comprises an intercalating dye, and wherein each amplification product, when produced, is labeled with said intercalating dye.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said intercalating dye is a green fluorescent dye.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said intercalating dye is SYBR Green, LC Green, or SYTO9.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein each amplification product, when produced, is between 100 and 300 nucleotides in length.

14. A method for detecting an influenza A virus within a sample, wherein said method comprises:

(a) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction using said sample as a source of template and a diagnostic device, wherein said device comprises a housing having a plurality of locations, wherein each of said locations contains a primer system, wherein the primers of each primer system are between 18 and 28 nucleotides in length and have a theoretical melting temperature between 58°

C. and 62°

C., wherein said device is capable of producing an amplification product diagnostic for at least six different targets of influenza A viruses, and wherein each amplification product, when produced, is between 100 and 400 nucleotides in length, and

(b) determining which locations of said device contain a primer system that resulted in the formation of amplification product, thereby detecting an influenza A virus.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said sample is a mucus sample from a human.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said determining step (b) is performed in using a dye reader device configured to receive said diagnostic device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of said locations comprises an intercalating dye, wherein each amplification product, when produced, is labeled with said intercalating dye, and wherein determining which locations of said device contain a primer system that resulted in the formation of amplification product is based on a signal from said dye.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said amplification reaction and said determining step (b) are performed in a machine configured to receive said diagnostic device, said machine comprising a thermal cycler device and a dye reader device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said machine is capable of providing output indicating the presence of said influenza A virus.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said machine is capable of providing output indicating the primer systems that detected the presence of said influenza A virus.