Patent ID: 6274316
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for determining the presence of a vancomycin antibiotic resistant gene of enterococci in a biological sample, comprising:(a) lysing cells contained within the biological sample to expose at least one target nucleic acid molecule;(b) reacting said target nucleic acid molecule with a scissile-link containing a nucleic acid probe selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1; SEQ ID NO:3; SEQ ID NO:7; SEQ ID NO:9; SEQ ID NO:16; and SEQ ID NO:17; and with an enzyme molecule under conditions and for a time sufficient for the target and probe to hybridize to form at least one double-stranded, target-probe complex, said enzyme molecule being capable of cleaving said scissile link of said target-probe complex such that one or more fragments of the nucleic acid probe is released from said complex; and(c) determining whether cleaved portions of the nucleic acid probe are produced, and thereby detecting the presence of a vancomycin antibiotic resistant gene.