Secondary structure defining database and methods for determining identity and geographic origin of an unknown bioagent thereby
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a) a molecular mass determination component;
b) a database component stored on a computer readable medium comprising nucleic acid base compositions of amplification products from a plurality of bioagents each indexed to a primer pair and a bioagent wherein said amplification products comprise a variable sequence region 50-250 nucleobases in length flanked by conserved sequence regions 10 to 100 nucleobases in length wherein said primer pair hybridizes to said conserved regions, wherein said plurality of bioagents comprises bioagents from two or more different genera; and
c) a processor configured to convert molecular mass data to nucleic acid base composition data, wherein said processor is further configured to compare said base composition data from a bioagent to said database component comprising nucleic acid base compositions from a plurality of bioagents to identify said bioagent.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the field of investigational bioinformatics and more particularly to secondary structure defining databases. The present invention further relates to methods for interrogating a database as a source of molecular masses of known bioagents for comparing against the molecular mass of an unknown or selected bioagent to determine either the identity of the selected bioagent, and/or to determine the origin of the selected bioagent. The identification of the bioagent is important for determining a proper course of treatment and/or irradication of the bioagent in such cases as biological warfare. Furthermore, the determination of the geographic origin of a selected bioagent will facilitate the identification of potential criminal identity.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a) a molecular mass determination component; b) a database component stored on a computer readable medium comprising nucleic acid base compositions of amplification products from a plurality of bioagents each indexed to a primer pair and a bioagent wherein said amplification products comprise a variable sequence region 50-250 nucleobases in length flanked by conserved sequence regions 10 to 100 nucleobases in length wherein said primer pair hybridizes to said conserved regions, wherein said plurality of bioagents comprises bioagents from two or more different genera; and c) a processor configured to convert molecular mass data to nucleic acid base composition data, wherein said processor is further configured to compare said base composition data from a bioagent to said database component comprising nucleic acid base compositions from a plurality of bioagents to identify said bioagent. - 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)
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Specification