Abstract: The invention describes means and methods for determining mitochondrion-bound nucleic acid and describes the use thereof in diagnostics. Preferable cell-free mitochondrion-bound nucleic acid is determined.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for detecting a nucleic acid of interest in at least one sample comprising administering the sample to a solid carrier capable of at least in part absorbing the sample, drying the carrier, providing at least a representative part of the carrier to a nucleic acid isolation solution so that a representative amount of the nucleic acid is extracted from the carrier, and detecting the representative amount of the nucleic acid. With a method of the invention, a sample, such as a body fluid sample, is stabilized in such a way that it can be shipped from the site of taking (for instance local hospital or lab in a less-developed country) and be sent to a service testing laboratory elsewhere in the world by normal logistics means. At least 100 ?l or at least 250 ?l of sample is administered to the carrier in order to detect low titers of nucleic acid of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for quantifying an initial ratio of the amounts of at least two nucleic acids of interest in a sample by means of a multiplex nucleic acid amplification reaction, comprising amplifying the nucleic acids of interest in the amplification reaction, measuring the amount of at least two nucleic acids of interest at at least two different time points in the reaction, determining from at least two of the measurements the amplification rate of the at least two nucleic acids of interest, comparing the rates with a reference, and determining from the comparison the initial ratio of the amounts of the at least two nucleic acids of interest in the sample. Preferably, at least one variable factor in the nucleic acid amplification reaction is adjusted in order to allow detectable levels of all nucleic acids of interest to be reached before an amplification and/or detection limit of one or more of the nucleic acids of interest is reached.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for typing a sample of an individual suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, a disease and a method for monitoring treatment of an individual suffering from a disease comprising determining whether a sample from the individual comprises an expression product of AC133 in an amount that is indicative for the disease or for the treatment thereof. That amount is preferably quantified and compared with a reference value. In one aspect, the amount is compared with an amount of the expression product present in a sample that was obtained from the individual before treatment. Use of a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least part of a sequence of AC133, or an analogue thereof, for monitoring a treatment of an individual suffering from a disease is also provided, as well as a diagnostic kit comprising such nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: Statins are widely used for the treatment of high cholesterol levels. In the present invention, the effect of statins on mitochondrial nucleic acid and the activation state of mitochondria is used in methods for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing side effects of statin treatment, methods for the treatment of a clinical symptom associated with reduced mitochondrial function. Further provided are kits and the like comprising a means for the detection of mitochondrial nucleic acid, or the activation of a mitochondrion for use in a method mentioned above.

Abstract: The invention relates to the diagnosis of disease or the determination of functioning of cellular organisms, being of multi-cellular or unicellular nature, being visible by the naked eye or being a microorganism. The invention provides a method for determining functioning of a cellular organism comprising determining the relative ratio of a first endosymbiont cellular organelle nucleic acid and/or gene product thereof in a sample obtained from the organism in relation to the amount of a second nucleic acid and/or gene product thereof.

Abstract: Methods for amplifying nucleic acid in a sample comprising providing the sample with a set of primers to enable synthesis of at least one nucleic acid strand complementary to at least part of the nucleic acid, wherein the set of primers comprises between 3-8 random bases, preferably clustered near the 3′ end of each primer in said set of primers. The methods of the invention are useful, for example, for determining whether samples derived from humans, mammals, poultry, or fish comprise nucleic acid of a pathogen. The methods are further suited for typing the pathogen and typing particular variants of said pathogen. The methods are also suited for the elucidation of the gene expression profile or genetic profile of cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing background in hybridization reactions of nucleic acids involving at least two homologous probes, wherein at least one of the probes is non-linear, or two homologous target sequences and a non-linear probe. Background is reduced by introducing an intended mismatch with a target sequence in at least one of the probes. The presence of the mismatch reduces the specificity of probes not entirely complementary to a target sequence to such an extent that the background signal is reduced. A set of mixed homologous probes, wherein at least one of the probes is non-linear, comprising such specific mismatch is also provided. The set can be used for the detection of variants of a family of nucleic acids, for instance a number of HIV variants. The invention also provides kits for carrying out the methods according to the invention.