Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing the incidence of false positives, increasing efficiency, and/or increasing the sensitivity of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of a target nucleic acid comprising combining: a plurality of LAMP primers for a target nucleic acid, wherein the plurality of LAMP primers comprises a F3 primer and a B3 primer, wherein both the F3 and B3 primer or the F3 primer comprises a promoter for an RNA polymerase at the 5? end; dNTPs; a strand-displacing DNA polymerase; a reverse transcriptase; an RNA polymerase; and rNTPs; and optionally a nucleic acid binding dye or probe, to form a LAMP reagent mix, incubating the LAMP reagent mix with the target nucleic acid under conditions suitable for amplification of the target nucleic acid with increased efficiency and/or sensitivity compared to the same amplification performed in the absence of the promoter, RNA polymerase and rNTPs.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: Methods for producing a target nucleic acid molecule from DNA encoding a gene comprising treating DNA from a higher organism with an agent that modifies cytosine to form derivative nucleic acid; and forming a modified nucleic acid having a reduced total number of cytosines compared with the corresponding untreated DNA, wherein the modified nucleic acid molecule includes the target nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A method for determining the methylation status of a potential methylation site in genomic nucleic acid comprising treating genomic nucleic acid with an agent which modifies cytosine bases but does not modify 5methyl-cytosine bases under conditions to form a.

Abstract: A method for whole genome amplification comprising (a) treating genomic DNA with a modifying agent which modifies cytosine bases but does not modify 5?-methyl-cytosine bases under conditions to form single stranded modified DNA; (b) providing a population of random X-mers of exonuclease-resistant primers capable of binding to at least one strand of the modified DNA, wherein X is an integer 3 or greater; (c) providing polymerase capable of amplifying double stranded DNA, together with nucleotides and optionally any suitable buffers or diluents to the modified DNA; and (d) allowing the polymerase to amplify the modified DNA.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample including treating a sample containing nucleic acid with an agent that modifies unmethylated cytosine; providing to the treated sample a detector ligand in the form of an intercalating nucleic acid (INA) capable of binding to a target region of nucleic acid, and allowing sufficient time for the detector ligand to bind to the target nucleic acid, and detecting binding of the detector ligand to nucleic acid molecule in the sample to indicate the presence of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating nucleic acid, particularly nucleic acid that is methylated.

Abstract: A diagnostic or prognostic assay is disclosed for a disease of condition characterized by abnormal methylation of cytosine at side or sites within the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) Pi gene and/or its regulatory flanking sequences (e.g., prostate cancer and liver cancer). The assay comprises: (i) isolating DNA from said subject, and (ii) determining (e.g., by selective PCR amplification) the presence of abnormal methylation of cytosine at a site or sites within the GST-Pi gene and/or its regulatory flanking sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A method for altering a characteristic or state of a cell, or reprogramming a cell, comprising treating a first cell type with an agent capable of altering a characteristic or state in a cell or reprogramming a cell, and determining the degree of alteration of the treated cell by measuring the methylation signature within the genome of the treated cell, wherein a given methylation signature is indicative of an altered characteristic or state of the treated cell. The preferred substance for treating the first cell is a cellular extract, lysate or component from a second cell type, the second cell type having a desired characteristic, or being the desired cell type the first cell type is to be reprogrammed to. The examples show the methylation state of a fibroblast cell being reprogrammed to that of an immune system T cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.