Methods for identifying bioagents
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying a bioagent in a sample comprising:
- a) selecting at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs, wherein each of said oligonucleotide primer pairs is configured to hybridize at conserved primer binding sequences flanking a variable sequence within a gene selected from the group consisting of a sequence encoding a 16S ribosomal RNA, a 23S ribosomal RNA, sspE, and RNase P wherein said variable sequence is sufficiently variable to resolve the identity of said bioagent;
b) obtaining a sample comprising at least one bioagent;
c) amplifying nucleic acid from said at least one bioagent with said at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs to produce at least three different amplicons;
d) analyzing said amplicons to identify one or more bioagents in said sample wherein said analyzing further comprises generating molecular mass data for said amplicons; and
e) calculating a base composition from said generated molecular mass data.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods for rapid forensic investigations by identification of bioagents associated with biowarfare and acts of terrorism or crime. The methods are also useful for epidemiological investigations by genotyping of bioagents.
354 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a bioagent in a sample comprising:
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a) selecting at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs, wherein each of said oligonucleotide primer pairs is configured to hybridize at conserved primer binding sequences flanking a variable sequence within a gene selected from the group consisting of a sequence encoding a 16S ribosomal RNA, a 23S ribosomal RNA, sspE, and RNase P wherein said variable sequence is sufficiently variable to resolve the identity of said bioagent; b) obtaining a sample comprising at least one bioagent; c) amplifying nucleic acid from said at least one bioagent with said at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs to produce at least three different amplicons; d) analyzing said amplicons to identify one or more bioagents in said sample wherein said analyzing further comprises generating molecular mass data for said amplicons; and e) calculating a base composition from said generated molecular mass data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of generating bioagent identifying amplicons comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs, wherein each of said oligonucleotide primer pairs hybridize with conserved primer binding sequences having at least 80% identity with sequences flanking a variable sequence of a gene sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences 1100-1188 of SEQ ID NO. 3;
971-1062 of SEQ ID NO. 3;
714-805 of SEQ ID NO. 3; and
787-894 of SEQ ID NO. 3;
2601-2667 of SEQ ID NO. 4; and
1840-1903 of SEQ ID NO. 4 wherein said variable sequence is sufficiently variable to resolve the identity of said bioagent;b) obtaining a sample comprising at least one bioagent; c) amplifying nucleic acid from said at least one bioagent with said at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs to produce amplicons; and d) analyzing said amplicons to identify one or more bioagents in said sample wherein said analyzing comprises mass spectrometry analysis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of identifying a bioagent in a sample comprising:
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a) selecting at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs, wherein each of said oligonucleotide primer pairs is configured to hybridize at conserved primer binding sequences flanking a variable sequence within a gene selected from the group consisting of a sequence encoding a 16S ribosomal RNA, a 23S ribosomal RNA, sspE, and RNase P wherein said variable sequence is sufficiently variable to resolve the identity of said bioagent; b) obtaining a sample comprising at least one bioagent; c) amplifying nucleic acid from said at least one bioagent with said at least three oligonucleotide primer pairs to produce at least three different amplicons; d) analyzing said amplicons to identify one or more bioagents in said sample wherein said analyzing further comprises generating molecular mass data for said amplicons; and e) comparing said molecular mass data to a plurality of molecular masses in a database, wherein a match between said generated molecular masses and a member of said plurality of molecular masses identifies the genus, species, subspecies, serotype or genotype of said one or more bioagents.
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Specification