Patent ID: 7045291
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: C12Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying the presence or absence of an AmpC beta-lactamase gene in a clinical sample, wherein the nucleic acid of an AmpC beta-lactamase gene, if present, are of a different origin relative to a bacteria's chromosomal ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid, the method comprising: providing a clinical sample; contacting the clinical sample with at least two pairs of oligonucleotide primers specific for nucleic acid of an AmpC beta-lactamase gene, wherein one primer of each pair is complementary to at least a portion of an ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid in the sense strand and the other primer of each pair is complementary to at least a portion of an ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid in the antisense strand; annealing the primers to the ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid, if present; simultaneously extending the annealed primers from a 3′ terminus of each primer to synthesize an extension product that is complementary to the nucleic acid strands annealed to each primer wherein each extension product after separation from the ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid, if present, serves as a template for the synthesis of an extension product for the other primer of each pair; and analyzing the sample for the presence or absence of amplified products, wherein the presence of amplified products of a size characteristic of an ampC beta-lactamase nucleic acid indicates the presence of an AmpC beta-lactamase gene in the clinical sample.