Method for obtaining purified RNA from viable oocysts

• US 7,585,631 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Melissa M., Stull, Paul D., Weisburg, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHISENANT, ETHAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/459,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 536/23.1, 536/24.3
• US Class Current: 435/6.15
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6893 for protozoa
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6895 for plants, fungi or algae
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

The present invention describes novel oligonucleotides targeted to nucleic acid sequences derived from Crytosporidium organisms, and Crytosporidium parvum organisms in particular, which are useful for determining the presence of Cryptosporidium organisms in a test sample. The oligonucleotides of the present invention include hybridization assay probes, helper probes and amplification primers. The present invention further describes a novel method for obtaining purified ribonucleic acid from viable oocysts.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining purified RNA from viable oocysts, the method comprising the steps of:

a) centrifuging a fluid sample containing oocysts at a speed and for a period of time sufficient to concentrate the oocysts within a vessel containing the fluid sample;

b) removing a supernatant formed in the vessel during the centrifuging step;

c) resuspending the concentrated oocysts in a buffered solution;

d) agitating the buffered solution in the presence of zirconia/silica particles at a rate and for a period of time sufficient to lyse the oocysts and release RNA therefrom;

e) immobilizing the released RNA on an RNA-binding filter;

f) purifying the released RNA by washing the filter one or more times with a buffered solution to remove oocyst components other than the released RNA; and

g) removing the purified RNA from the filter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said oocysts include Cryptosporidium organisms.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said Cryptosporidium organisms include Cryptosporidium parvum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said centrifuging step is performed at about 7000 revolutions per minute for approximately 5 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffered solution includes a chaotropic agent capable of inactivating endogenous ribonucleases released from the oocysts.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the chaotropic agent is guanidinium thiocyanate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the agitating step is performed by oscillating or vortexing the buffered solution.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles have a density of about 3.7 g/cc.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles have a generally spherical shape.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the particles have an average diameter in the range of about 0.1 to about 2.5 mm.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the particles have an average diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 mm.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the particles have an average diameter of about 1 mm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is a silica-based matrix.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the oocyst components include proteins and DNA.