Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for determining the presence of an antibiotic resistant mecA gene in a biological sample, comprising the general steps of (a) treating cells contained within a biological sample to expose target single-stranded nucleic acid molecules; (b) reacting the target single-stranded nucleic acids with a scissile link-containing nucleic acid which is complementary to a portion of an antibiotic resistant mecA gene, and with an enzyme which cleaves double-stranded target-probe complexes, under conditions which allow the target and probe to hybridize to each other to form a double-stranded target-probe complex, the enzyme molecule being capable of cleaving the scissile link of the target-probe complex such that one or more fragments of the nucleic acid probe released from said complex; and (c) determining whether cleaved portions of the detecting probe fragments released from said nucleic acid probe are produced, and thereby detecting the presence of the antibiotic resistant mecA gene

Abstract: A method for detecting a target nucleic acid molecule is provided, comprising the steps of (a) reacting a mixture comprising (i) a target nucleic acid molecule; (ii) a single-stranded nucleic acid probe containing a scissile linkage; (iii) an enzyme capable of cleaving the probe portion of a double-stranded target-probe complex at the scissile linkage; and (iv) ribosomal protein and/or spermine, under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow the target nucleic acid and probe to hybridize to each other and form a double-stranded target-probe complex, followed by cleavage of the probe and cycling of the target to a new uncleaved probe, such that one or more portions of the cleaved nucleic acid probe are released from the target-probe complex; and (b) determining whether cleaved portions of the nucleic acid probe are produced, and thereby detecting the presence of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Briefly stated, the present invention provides novel compositions and methods for detecting target nucleic acid sequences utilizing adjacent sequence-enzyme molecules. Within one aspect of the present invention, oligonucleotide-enzyme fusion molecules are provided, comprising an enzyme capable of cleaving scissile linkages and an oligonucleotide having the structure (NA.sub.1).sub.x --S.sub.z --(NA.sub.2).sub.y wherein NA.sub.1 and NA.sub.2 are nucleic acid sequences, S is a scissile nucleic acid linkage, x, y and z are integers from 1 to 100 and n is an integer from 1 to 10.