Binding interactions in dipstick assays
First Claim
1. A dipstick for testing for the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample solution, wherein the dipstick comprises:
- a chromatographic strip having a contact end for contacting the sample solution; and
a capture probe that is immobilized at a capture zone of the chromatographic strip remote from the contact end, wherein the capture probe comprises an oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid or to a hook capture probe bound to the target nucleic acid, wherein the capture probe is linked to a capture probe spacer and the capture probe spacer is linked to the capture zone, thereby immobilizing the capture probe at the capture zone and spacing the capture probe from the capture zone, wherein;
i) the capture probe spacer is linked to one end of the capture probe, and the end of the capture probe that is not linked to the capture probe spacer is coupled to one or more nucleotides, which do not hybridize to the target nucleic acid when the capture probe is hybridized to the target nucleic acid or do not hybridize to the hook capture probe when the capture probe is hybridized to the hook capture probe;
ii) the capture probe spacer is linked to a part of the capture probe between the ends of the capture probe, and one or both ends of the capture probe are coupled to one or more nucleotides, which do not hybridize to the target nucleic acid when the capture probe is hybridized to the target nucleic acid or do not hybridize to the hook capture probe when the capture probe is hybridized to the hook capture probe;
iii) the capture probe spacer comprises a protein adsorbed directly to the capture zone, wherein the capture probe is covalently linked to the protein by a linker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Use of dipsticks to test for the presence of target nucleic acid in a sample solution is described. The dipsticks comprise a contact end for contacting the sample solution and a capture zone, remote from the contact end, to which a capture probe is immobilized. The capture probe is capable of hybridising to the target nucleic acid. The sample solution is contacted with the contact end of the dipstick and travels by capillary action to the capture zone. If target nucleic acid is present in the sample solution it is captured and can be detected at the capture zone. The capture probe is immobilized to the capture zone by a spacer. Use of the spacer increases the stability of the interaction between the capture probe and the target nucleic acid and thus improves the sensitivity of target nucleic acid detection. Detection probes with spacers are also described.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A dipstick for testing for the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample solution, wherein the dipstick comprises:
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a chromatographic strip having a contact end for contacting the sample solution; and a capture probe that is immobilized at a capture zone of the chromatographic strip remote from the contact end, wherein the capture probe comprises an oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid or to a hook capture probe bound to the target nucleic acid, wherein the capture probe is linked to a capture probe spacer and the capture probe spacer is linked to the capture zone, thereby immobilizing the capture probe at the capture zone and spacing the capture probe from the capture zone, wherein; i) the capture probe spacer is linked to one end of the capture probe, and the end of the capture probe that is not linked to the capture probe spacer is coupled to one or more nucleotides, which do not hybridize to the target nucleic acid when the capture probe is hybridized to the target nucleic acid or do not hybridize to the hook capture probe when the capture probe is hybridized to the hook capture probe; ii) the capture probe spacer is linked to a part of the capture probe between the ends of the capture probe, and one or both ends of the capture probe are coupled to one or more nucleotides, which do not hybridize to the target nucleic acid when the capture probe is hybridized to the target nucleic acid or do not hybridize to the hook capture probe when the capture probe is hybridized to the hook capture probe; iii) the capture probe spacer comprises a protein adsorbed directly to the capture zone, wherein the capture probe is covalently linked to the protein by a linker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification