SEQUENTIAL ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

• US 20100120043A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Microsystems Gmbh (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gerdes, Michael John, Sood, Anup, Nelson, John Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/582 with fluorescent label

Abstract

Methods for detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample are provided. The method comprises contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes simultaneously to form a plurality of target-bound probes and observing the signals from the target-bound probes sequentially. An associated kit and device for detection of the plurality of targets are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample, comprising:

(a) contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes to form a plurality of target-bound probes;

(b) observing a first set of signals from a first set of the plurality of target-bound probes;

(c) modifying the observed signals;

(d) generating a second set of signals from a second set of the plurality of target-bound probes; and

(e) observing the second set of signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (c) to (e) multiple times with a third, a fourth, and an n^th set of the plurality of target-bound probes to observe a third, a fourth, and an n^th set of signals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising correlating the observed signals to the detection of the plurality of targets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target-binding probe comprises a unit derived from a target-binding moiety and an independently detectable moiety.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the independently detectable moiety of the first set of the plurality of target-bound probes comprises a signal-generating moiety.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal-generating moiety comprises a fluorophore, a chromophore, a Raman tag, a SERS tag, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the target binding moiety is coupled to the independently detectable moiety via a cleavable linker.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the independently detectable moiety comprises a unique nucleic acid sequence, a hapten, an enzyme, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the independently detectable moiety comprises a masked signal-generating moiety.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the masked signal-generating moiety comprises a masked fluorophore, a masked chromophore, a masked Raman tag, a masked SERS tag, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signals are generated from the plurality of target-bound probes by unmasking the masked signal generating moiety.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals are generated from the plurality of target-bound probes by associating a signal-generating moiety with each of the target-bound probe.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps, after the contacting step, for removing any target-binding probes that are not bound to the targets.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising imaging the biological sample to obtain a background signal signature prior to contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of the plurality of targets comprises identifying the presence, absence, location, or amount of the plurality of targets.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of targets is selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid, a peptide, a protein, a hormone, a receptor, a polysaccharide, a lipid, and a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of targets consist essentially of a plurality of proteins.

18. A method of detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample, comprising:

(a) contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes to form a plurality of target-bound probes;

(b) generating a first set of signals from a first set of the plurality of target-bound probes;

(c) observing the first set of signals;

(d) modifying the observed signals;

(e) generating a second set of signals from a second set of the plurality of target-bound probes; and

(f) observing the second set of signals.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising repeating steps (d) to (f) with a third, a fourth, and an n^th set of the plurality of target-bound probes to observe a third, a fourth, and an nth set of signals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein integer value of n ranges from 5 to 100.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising correlating the observed signals to the detection of the plurality of targets.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising imaging the biological sample to obtain a background signal signature prior to generating the first set of signals.

23. The method claim 22, further comprising subtracting the background signal signature from the signals observed in the subsequent signal observing steps prior to the correlating step.

24. A method of detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample, comprising:

(a) contacting the sample with a plurality of target-binding probes to form a plurality of target-bound probes;

(b) contacting the plurality of target-bound probes with a first set signal-generating probes that are capable of binding a first set of the plurality of target-bound probes, and are capable of generating a first set of signals;

(c) detecting the first set of the plurality of targets via observing the first set of signals;

(d) modifying the observed first set of signals; and

(e) repeating steps (b) to (d) multiple times using a subsequent set of signal-generating probes to detect a subsequent set of the plurality of targets, wherein the subsequent set of signal-generating probes are capable of binding a subsequent set of the plurality of target-bound probes, and are capable of generating a subsequent set of signals.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the observed first set of signals is modified by applying a chemical agent.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising steps for removing the target-binding probes that are not bound to the plurality of targets, prior to contacting the plurality of target-bound probes with the first set of signal-generating probes.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising steps for removing the first set of signal-generating probes that are not bound to the first set of the plurality of target-bound probes, prior to detecting the first set of the plurality of targets.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the steps (b) to (d) are repeated up to 100 times.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of targets is selected from the group consisting of a deoxyribonucleic acid, a ribonucleic acid, a protein, and a combination thereof.

30. A device for detection of a plurality of targets in a biological sample, comprising:

a sample handling system;

a reagent dispensing system; and

a signal detection system,

wherein the device is operable to detect the plurality of targets in the biological sample using a method comprising the steps of;

(a) contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes to form a plurality of target-bound probes;

(b) observing a first set of signals from a first set of the plurality of target-bound probes;

(c) modifying the observed signals;

(d) generating a second set of signals from a second set of the plurality of target-bound probes; and

(e) observing the second set of signals.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the reagent dispensing system dispenses at least one reagent solution comprising at least one target-binding probe.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the sample handling system, the reagent dispensing system, or the signal detection system are operable without an operator intervention.