Abstract: The present disclosure provides pathogen inactivating formulations, and methods of use thereof in collecting, transporting and storing biological samples, as well as preventing degradation of and purifying nucleic acids. The disclosure further provides methods of preparing compositions comprising the pathogen inactivating formulation and a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric capture probes immobilizable via an L-nucleic acid tail that can bind to a complementary L-nucleic acid in an immobilized probe. The capture probes are useful for capturing a target nucleic acid from a sample. The L-nucleic acid in the tail of the capture probe bind to the complementary L-nucleic acid in the immobilized probe with similar affinity as would otherwise equivalent D-nucleic acids. However, the L-nucleic acid of the capture probe tail and immobilized probes do not form stable duplexes with D-nucleic acids present in the in the sample containing the target nucleic acid. Binding of nucleic acids in the sample directly to immobilized probe or to the tail of the capture probe is reduced or eliminated increasing the sensitivity and/or specificity of the assay.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: An electronic gaming table executes player-versus-player playing card games. The gaming table has a display screen where at least one random virtual playing card is virtually delivered to individual player positions for each of the multiple players. The electronic gaming table includes the display screen, a processor associated with memory, player input controls and a playing card masking element at each player position. The playing card masking system at each player position is positioned over an individual position that is a portion of the display screen where the processor directs delivery of the at least one random virtual playing card virtual face down. The playing card masking system includes a three-dimensional element having a visible light transmissive line of sight between the individual position and a player at the individual player position, while excluding visible light transmission to player positions across from or adjacent to the individual player position.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: An electronic gaming table executes player-versus-player playing card games. The gaming table has a display screen where at least one random virtual playing card is virtually delivered to individual player positions for each of the multiple players. The electronic gaming table includes the display screen, a processor associated with memory, player input controls and a playing card masking element at each player position. The playing card masking system at each player position is positioned over an individual position that is a portion of the display screen where the processor directs delivery of the at least one random virtual playing card virtual face down. The playing card masking system includes a three-dimensional element having a visible light transmissive line of sight between the individual position and a player at the individual player position, while excluding visible light transmission to player positions across from or adjacent to the individual player position.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric capture probes immobilizable via an L-nucleic acid tail that can bind to a complementary L-nucleic acid in an immobilized probe. The capture probes are useful for capturing a target nucleic acid from a sample. The L-nucleic acid in the tail of the capture probe bind to the complementary L-nucleic acid in the immobilized probe with similar affinity as would otherwise equivalent D-nucleic acids. However, the L-nucleic acid of the capture probe tail and immobilized probes do not form stable duplexes with D-nucleic acids present in the in the sample containing the target nucleic acid. Binding of nucleic acids in the sample directly to immobilized probe or to the tail of the capture probe is reduced or eliminated increasing the sensitivity and/or specificity of the assay.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric capture probes immobilizable via an L-nucleic acid tail that can bind to a complementary L-nucleic acid in an immobilized probe. The capture probes are useful for capturing a target nucleic acid from a sample. The L-nucleic acid in the tail of the capture probe bind to the complementary L-nucleic acid in the immobilized probe with similar affinity as would otherwise equivalent D-nucleic acids. However, the L-nucleic acid of the capture probe tail and immobilized probes do not form stable duplexes with D-nucleic acids present in the sample containing the target nucleic acid. Binding of nucleic acids in the sample directly to immobilized probe or to the tail of the capture probe is reduced or eliminated increasing the sensitivity and/or specificity of the assay.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric capture probes immobilizable via an L-nucleic acid tail that can bind to a complementary L-nucleic acid in an immobilized probe. The capture probes are useful for capturing a target nucleic acid from a sample. The L-nucleic acid in the tail of the capture probe bind to the complementary L-nucleic acid in the immobilized probe with similar affinity as would otherwise equivalent D-nucleic acids. However, the L-nucleic acid of the capture probe tail and immobilized probes do not form stable duplexes with D-nucleic acids present in the sample containing the target nucleic acid. Binding of nucleic acids in the sample directly to immobilized probe or to the tail of the capture probe is reduced or eliminated increasing the sensitivity and/or specificity of the assay.

Abstract: Compositions are described for detecting binding of an analyte to a binding partner attached to a nucleic acid hybridization switch probe that includes first and second arm sequences and a support sequence that is at least partially complementary to both arm sequences, allowing the probe under hybridization conditions to form a first conformation in the absence of the analyte and to form a second conformation in the presence of the analyte, and a label associated with the probe that produces a signal that indicates the conformation of the probe. Methods are described for detecting an analyte that forms a specific binding pair with the binding partner attached to the hybridization switch probe, thereby changing the probe from a first to a second conformation that results in a detectable signal that indicates the presence of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to oligonucleotides comprising a molecular switch which may exist in an “open” or “closed” position. The molecular switch portion of the probe is particularly sensitive to the identity of sequences complementary to the molecular switch. Oligonucleotides containing a molecular switch are applicable to all kinds of hybridization processes. Due to the sensitivity of the switch domain of the oligonucleotide, probes containing a molecular switch are particularly useful in the identification of single point mismatches. More specifically, a portion, but not all, of the oligonucleotide becomes unbound from a mismatched target. The invention further relates to methods of using said oligonucleotides for research reagents, and clinical diagnostics. An exemplary oligonucleotide comprises a first hybridizable domain, a second bridging block domain, and a third binding domain.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for amplifying RNA sequences by (a) hybridizing to a target RNA a first primer comprising a 3′ target RNA hybridizing sequence and a first 5′ defined amplifyable sequence; (b) extending the first primer with a reverse transcriptase to form a first cDNA strand; (c) hybridizing to the first cDNA strand a second primer comprising a 3′ random cDNA hybridizing sequence and a second 5′ defined amplifyable sequence; (d) extending the second primer with a DNA polymerase to form a second cDNA strand; and (e) amplifying the second cDNA strand with a third primer comprising the first 5′ defined amplifyable sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for mixing a film of fluid, particularly a film of chemical, biochemical, or biological fluids, undergoing a reaction. The apparatus comprises a means for creating a bubble within the film of fluid, and moving the bubble in the fluid, thereby mixing the fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions and systems for detecting multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a population of target polynucleotides in parallel in a sandwich assay employing SNP probes, capture polynucleotides and, optionally, auxiliary polynucleotides. The relative affinities of the SNP probes for the corresponding SNP regions can be increased with reagents which normalize the melting temperatures of the probes and/or by positionally facilitating interactions between the SNP probe, the SNP region, the capture polynucleotide and/or the auxiliary polynucleotides, such as through a minor groove binder. The probes may comprise a degenerate set of all possible same-sized polynucleotides and the capture polynucleotides are generally immobilized and arrayed at corresponding discrete elements in high density.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for mixing a film of fluid, particularly a film of chemical, biochemical, or biological fluids, undergoing a reaction. The apparatus comprises a means for creating a bubble within the film of fluid, and moving the bubble in the fluid, thereby mixing the fluid.

Abstract: Methods are provide for quantitatively determining the amount of polynucleotides in a sample. In one method, the distinct polynucleotide targets and standard polynucleotide targets are contacted with detectable probes and independently detectable single or double stranded complements to the standard targets under hybridization conditions. The hybridization pattern from the probe is compared to the hybridization pattern from the standard sequences to obtain quantitative information about the genetic profile of the labeled nucleic acid sample. Also provided are kits for the use of the methods.