Abstract: In various embodiments methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided.

Abstract: In various embodiments methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are provided. The present invention also provides methods and compositions for screening for infection/inflammation based on genomic copy number. Described herein is a method that entails assaying a sample obtained from the urogenital tract of the mammal for an indicator of genomic copy number, wherein a genomic copy number level that is higher than a control genomic copy number level is indicative of the presence of infection or inflammation of the urogenital tract.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are provided for the rapid extraction of nucleic acids from a fixed paraffin embedded sample (e.g., a FFPET sample). In some embodiments, the methods comprise incubating one or more sections of said tissue sample in a lysis solution comprising a buffer sufficient to maintain the pH of said solution at a pH ranging from about pH 4 to about pH 9; a chaotropic agent; a chelating agent; and a detergent; where the incubating is at a temperature ranging from about 50 C to about 100 C; and recovering the nucleic acid from said lysis solution.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently binds and is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Cross-linking of the stems when unbound to complementary DNA is inhibited. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded nucleic acid to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes that are susceptible to chemical or enzymatic degradation are described herein. In addition, assays and methods using such probes in the detection of target nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. The target-specific hybridization region or target-complementary region of the degradable probes can be separated via a degradation process from the detectable region. The remaining portion of the degradable probes can be easily detected. The use of the degradable probes described herein improves the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing background specific or non-specific signal generation in assays and methods of nucleic acid detection.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently binds and is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Cross-linking of the stems when unbound to complementary DNA is inhibited. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded nucleic acid to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently binds and is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Cross-linking of the stems when unbound to complementary DNA is inhibited. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded nucleic acid to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently binds and is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Cross-linking of the stems when unbound to complementary DNA is inhibited. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded nucleic acid to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently binds and is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded nucleic acid to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes. Also provided are kits comprising reagents, as well as automatic devices, for carrying out the subject method.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting nucleic acid sequences. In particular, pairs of probes are employed, where the pair defines a substantially contiguous sequence on a target nucleic acid. Each of the pairs has a side chain which forms a stem of the two side chains which non-covalently bind to is capable of forming a cross-link upon activation, when the probes and sample nucleic acid are base paired. Each of the nucleic acids is initially present as single stranded to allow for base pairing, so that the probes bind to homologous target nucleic acid. The assay mixture is activated to provide cross-linking, the double stranded nucleic acid melted, and the process of base pairing, activation and melting repeated, a sufficient number of cycles, to provide a detectable amount of cross-linked probes. Kits are provided with the appropriate reagents for carrying out the subject method.