Patent ID: 7524628
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: C07K,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for quantifying molecules expressing a selected epitope in a sample comprising: (a) immobilizing a molecule expressing a selected epitope in a sample to a selected surface; (b) contacting the surface with an epitope detector so that the epitope detector binds to immobilized molecules on the surface, wherein said epitope detector comprising an oligonucleotide attached to a monoclonal antibody for the selected epitope, a single chain Fv for the epitope, a constrained epitope specific CDR, a CDR mimetic, or an engineered CDR, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises an RNA promoter; (c) amplifying the oligonucleotide of said epitope detector by RNA amplification to produce an amplified RNA product that is not labeled with a radioactive label or a fluorescent label; (d) contacting said amplified RNA product with a fluorescent dye which stains the amplified RNA product; and (e) measuring a quanta of fluorescence signals emitted from the stained amplified RNA product which is directly proportional to epitope detector bound to the surface and molecules expressing the selected epitope in the sample.