Abstract: A method for detecting a reversibly photoswitchable chemical species in a sample, includes the steps of: a) illuminating the sample with light suitable to be absorbed by the chemical species triggering a reaction affecting an optical property of the chemical species, the first light being periodically-modulated at a fundamental modulation frequency; b) measuring the evolution of the optical property; c) extracting at least one of an in-phase component at a frequency which is an even multiple of the fundamental modulation frequency; and a quadrature component at a frequency which is an odd multiple of the fundamental modulation frequency of a signal representing the evolution; and d) using the extracted component or components for detecting the chemical species. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A device positioning an object according to a given direction, including a frame, a holderfor holding the object, the holder being movable relative to the frame according to the given directio, a main lever extending between a first point and a second point, said main lever being rotatably mounted to the frame via a first pivot link connecting the main lever and the frame at the first point of the main lever, the main lever being connected to the holder at a third point which is arranged between the first point and the second point, so that a displacement of the second point of the main lever relative to the frame according to the given direction causes displacement of the holder in said given direction.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for analyzing nucleic acid molecules (M), comprising: —a bead (20), on which one molecule can be anchored at one end, —a surface (520), on which the molecule can be anchored at the other end, —an actuator (30), adapted to cause the bead to move relative to said surface in one direction, —a sensor (50), adapted to measure a distance between the bead and the surface, the device further comprising a well (11), having an axis (X-X) extending along the direction of motion of the bead and a bottom (110) formed by said surface, said well being filled with electrically conductive solution (40), and receiving the bead, the sensor being adapted to measure an impedance of the well, depending on a distance between the bead and the surface, to determine, the distance between the bead and the surface.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for analyzing nucleic acid molecules (M), comprising: —a bead (20), on which one molecule can be anchored at one end, —a surface (520), on which the molecule can be anchored at the other end, —an actuator (30), adapted to cause the bead to move relative to said surface in one direction, —a sensor (50), adapted to measure a distance between the bead and the surface, the device further comprising a well (11), having an axis (X-X) extending along the direction of motion of the bead and a bottom (110) formed by said surface, said well being filled with electrically conductive solution (40), and receiving the bead, the sensor being adapted to measure an impedance of the well, depending on a distance between the bead and the surface, to determine, the distance between the bead and the surface.

Abstract: A method for detection of at least one reversibly photo-convertible fluorescent species, comprises the following steps: a) illumination of a sample comprising said or at least one of the reversibly photo-convertible fluorescent species by a periodically modulated illuminating light; and b) detection of fluorescent emission emitted by the sample thus illuminated; wherein the method further comprises the following step: c) extraction of the amplitude of the intensity component of the fluorescent emission exhibiting the same periodicity as the periodically modulated illuminating light and a phase quadrature with respect to the same; and wherein the mean intensity of the illuminating light and the modulation frequency of the same are chosen to maximize the amplitude of the intensity component of the fluorescent emission.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring the position of an object along a first axis, the object being subjected to light radiations emitted by a light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparation of substrates for nucleic acid sequencing reactions. More specifically, the present invention provides a new method of preparing hairpins using force-induced strand invasion. Hairpins prepared by this method and methods of nucleic acid analysis using these hairpins are also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for analyzing nucleic acid molecules (M), comprising: —a bead (20), on which one molecule can be anchored at one end, —a surface (520), on which the molecule can be anchored at the other end, —an actuator (30), adapted to cause the bead to move relative to said surface in one direction, —a sensor (50), adapted to measure a distance between the bead and the surface, the device further comprising a well (11), having an axis (X-X) extending along the direction of motion of the bead and a bottom (110) formed by said surface, said well being filled with electrically conductive solution (40), and receiving the bead, the sensor being adapted to measure an impedance of the well, depending on a distance between the bead and the surface, to determine, the distance between the bead and the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring the position of an object along a first axis, the object being subjected to light radiations emitted by a light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparation of substrates for nucleic acid sequencing reactions. More specifically, the present invention provides a new method of preparing hairpins using force-induced strand invasion. Hairpins prepared by this method and methods of nucleic acid analysis using these hairpins are also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring the position of an object along a first axis, the object being subjected to light radiations emitted by a light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a protein binds to a specific DNA sequence. This method is useful in particular for identifying modifications to the DNA sequence (e.g. methylations) via the binding of proteins that specifically recognize those modifications (e.g. antibodies), but also to identify the binding sequence on DNA of a variety of proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of a nucleic acid sequence by physical manipulation. In particular, the said method comprises the steps of denaturing a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule corresponding to the said nucleic acid sequence by applying a physical force to the said molecule; and detecting a blockage of the renaturation of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of denaturing a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule corresponding to the said nucleic acid sequence by applying a physical force to the said molecule; providing a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; renaturing the said double stranded nucleic acid molecule in the presence of the said single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; and detecting a blockage of the renaturation of the double-stranded nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fast method for the detection and the quantification of a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA. Specifically, the invention provides a method for detecting and quantifying the presence of a specific nucleic acid molecule which is based on physical and electronic treatments. The method of the invention is particularly useful for applications as diverse as detection of chromosomal abnormal distributions or gene expression analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of a nucleic acid sequence by physical manipulation. The method is based on the precise determination of the localization of the replicating fork on the template by measuring the physical distance between one end of the molecule and the fork. This allows the determination of the physical location of the site where a pause or a blockage of the replication occurs, and deducing therefrom information on the sequence of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for measuring the position of an object along a first axis, the object being subjected to light radiations emitted by a light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of a nucleic acid sequence by physical manipulation. The method is based on the precise determination of the localization of the replicating fork on the template by measuring the physical distance between one end of the molecule and the fork. This allows the determination of the physical location of the site where a pause or a blockage of the replication occurs, and deducing therefrom information on the sequence of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of a nucleic acid sequence by physical manipulation. In particular, the said method comprises the steps of denaturing a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule corresponding to the said nucleic acid sequence by applying a physical force to the said molecule; and detecting a blockage of the renaturation of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of denaturing a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule corresponding to the said nucleic acid sequence by applying a physical force to the said molecule; providing a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; renaturing the said double stranded nucleic acid molecule in the presence of the said single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; and detecting a blockage of the renaturation of the double-stranded nucleic acid.

Abstract: Method for detection of at least one reversibly photo-convertible fluorescent species (P), comprising the following steps: a) illumination of a sample comprising said or at least one of said reversibly photo-convertible fluorescent species by a periodically modulated illuminating light (FEX); and b) detection of fluorescent emission (FLU) emitted by the sample thus illuminated; characterized in that the method further comprises the following step: c) extraction of the amplitude (IFOUt) of the intensity component of said fluorescent emission exhibiting the same periodicity as said periodically modulated illuminating light and a phase quadrature with respect to the same; and in that the mean intensity of said illuminating light and the modulation frequency of the same are chosen in such a way as to maximise said amplitude of the intensity component of said fluorescent emission.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for determining a nucleic acid sequence, said method comprising: a) denaturing a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule corresponding to the said nucleic acid sequence by applying a physical force to the said molecule; b) providing a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; c) renaturing the said double stranded nucleic acid molecule in the presence of the said single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; and d) detecting a blockage of the renaturation of the double-stranded nucleic acid.