Abstract: An in vitro selection method is described which identifies oligonucleotide probes that discriminate amongst closely related nucleic acid sequences and which involves iterative hybridizations, including subtractive hybridization. Using the method, oligonucleotides are identified which can discriminate among human papilloma virus (HPV) subtypes. Corresponding methods and kits for the detection of nucleic acids are described, which methods and kits may be used in analytical, diagnostic, research and related applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosis or prognosis of tumor cells in a patient displaying a mutator phenotype in the tumor which comprises the steps of: a) obtaining a genomic DNA sample of the tumor; b) obtaining a genomic DNA sample of a tumor-free tissue of the patient; subjecting the DNA samples of steps a) and b) to amplification using primers which are flanking repeat pattern affected by a mutator phenotype or cold inter-Alu PCR followed by hybridization with a probe corresponding to an instability prone locus; d) subjecting the amplified fragments of step c) to electrophoretic fractionation on a polyacrylamide gel to determine the presence of a variation in band profile between tumor and tumor-free DNA indicating a genomic instability associated with a mutator phenotype; and e) employing means for comparing the allelic status of at least one instability prone locus in the DNA samples of step c).