Patent ID: 7759057
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for quantifying microbial genes, species, or strains in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing an unpurified environmental sample comprising at least two different microbial species or strains; providing a polynucleotide microarray that can differentiate said at least two different microbial species or strains or at least two different genes from the different microbial species or strains; randomly, representatively and quantitatively amplifying genomic DNA in the sample with a buffer that comprises spermidine and a single strand binding protein to form a polynucleotide preparation for hybridization; hybridizing the polynucleotide preparation to the microarray; and quantitatively measuring hybridization signals on the microarray wherein a signal intensity difference between two different microbial genes, species, or strains will be quantitatively observed if the total amount of DNA in the sample of a less abundant microbial gene, species, or strain in the sample is 20% or less by weight of the total amount of DNA in the sample of a more abundant microbial gene, species, or strain in the sample.