Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.

Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, kits and compositions for the detection of an analyte. In the methods of the invention, a binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase is incubated with a modified polynucleotide template to form a copy of the modified polynucleotide template without any modified nucleotides. The unmodified copy is detected in a second amplification/primer extension reaction using a second polymerase that is unable to amplify the modified polynucleotide template. Detection of the unmodified copy is indicative of the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample. In place of the binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase, a pair of analyte-specific probes can also be used. The first analyte specific probe comprises a first binding moiety and a first portion of a first polymerase and the second analyte specific probe comprises a second binding moiety and a second portion of the first polymerase.

Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, kits and compositions for the detection of an analyte. In the methods of the invention, a binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase is incubated with a modified polynucleotide template to form a copy of the modified polynucleotide template without any modified nucleotides. The unmodified copy is detected in a second amplification/primer extension reaction using a second polymerase that is unable to amplify the modified polynucleotide template. Detection of the unmodified copy is indicative of the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample. In place of the binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase, a pair of analyte-specific probes can also be used. The first analyte specific probe comprises a first binding moiety and a first portion of a first polymerase and the second analyte specific probe comprises a second binding moiety and a second portion of the first polymerase.

Abstract: The invention relates to generating a signal indicative of a target nucleic acid sequence, comprising forming a complex by incubating a sample comprising a target nucleic acid sequence with a probe comprising a first and second subunit, and a binding moiety, and dissociating the first and second subunit to release the first subunit and generate a signal. The invention also relates to a method of generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, comprising forming a complex by incubating a target nucleic acid sequence, an upstream primer and a probe comprising a first and second subunit, and a binding moiety. The primer is extended with a nucleic acid polymerase to displace a portion of the first subunit from the target nucleic acid strand thereby dissociating the first subunit from the second subunit to release the first subunit and generate a signal.

Abstract: The invention is related to a labeled oligonucleotide pair for detecting a target nucleic acid and methods, kits and compositions containing the labeled oligonucleotide pair. The labeled oligonucleotide pair forms a complex comprising a nucleic acid primer and a nucleic acid probe.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of generating a signal indicative of the presence of said target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, comprising, incubating a sample comprising a an amplified target nucleic acid and a nucleic acid polymerase which substantially lacks 5? to 3? exonuclease activity, adding a thermostable fen nuclease consisting of 5? to 3? exonuclease and/or endonuclease activity so as to cleave a cleavage structure and generate a signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, kits and compositions for the detection of an analyte. The invention is particularly suited for the detection and quantification of analytes in solution. In the methods of the invention a complex is formed between two or more analyte specific probes (ASP) and an analyte. The reactive moieties of the probes interact upon the binding of the analyte specific probes to the analyte. The reactive moieties generate a nucleic acid cleavage product which is detected and indicative of the presence of the analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample utilizing a primer-probe duplex.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, products, and kits for detection of target nucleic acids. Detection is based, at least in part, on detection of chromophores that have different chromogenic properties depending on their association with double-stranded nucleic acids. In general, labeled reagents are exposed to denatured nucleic acids, and the nucleic acids are permitted to renature. Incorporation of the chromogenic labels into the renaturing nucleic acids produces a detectable signal, which can be correlated to the presence and amount of target nucleic acid in the sample. The method is particularly suitable for detection of in vitro amplification products.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions, kits and methods of generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample by forming a cleavage structure. The cleavage structure is formed by incubating a sample containing a target nucleic acid with a downstream probe that forms a 3? flap when hybridized to the target. The cleavage structure is cleaved with a 3? nuclease and a detectable signal is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods of generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, where the method includes forming a cleavage structure by incubating a sample comprising a target nucleic acid with a probe. The invention also includes the steps of cleaving the cleavage structure with a nuclease to release a nucleic acid fragment to generate a signal, wherein generation of the signal is indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for a method of selectively cloning homoduplex nucleic acid molecules, in particular, by using a strain of host cells that contains a conditionally expressed and/or conditionally active mismatch-recognizing enzyme, e.g., a temperature sensitive variant of the gene encoding the endonuclease VII from phage T4. Using this host strain, the invention features a novel cloning method that selects for PCR products that are devoid of PCR-generated mutations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, where the method includes forming a cleavage structure by incubating a sample containing a target nucleic acid sequence with a nucleic acid polymerase and cleaving the cleavage structure with a nuclease to generate a cleaved nucleic acid fragment. The invention also relates to methods of detecting or measuring a target nucleic acid sequence, where the method includes forming a cleavage structure by incubating a target nucleic acid sequence with a nucleic acid polymerase, cleaving the cleavage structure with a nuclease and detecting or measuring the release of a fragment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for isolating from the immunological gene repertoire a gene coding for a receptor having the ability to bind a preselected ligand. Receptors produced by the gene isolated by the method, particularly catalytic receptors, are also contemplated.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample utilizing a cleavage resistant probe.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample by forming a cleavage structure comprising duplex and single-stranded nucleic acid by incubating a sample comprising a target nucleic acid with a thermostable nucleic acid polymerase substantially lacking 5? to 3? exonuclease activity and cleaving said cleavage structure with a thermostable Fen nuclease lacking 5? to 3? synthetic activity to generate a signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed compositions having a Fen nuclease consisting of a 5? to 3? exonuclease and/or endonuclease activity and one or more dNTPs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed compositions having a Fen nuclease consisting of a 5? to 3? exonuclease and/or endonuclease activity and pyrophosphate.