Patent ID: 8207324

Claim:
An array of nucleotide sequences for detection and identification of genes that encode proteins present in a microbiological sample, the array comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 or a full-length complement thereof and a plurality of identifier polynucleotides attached to a surface of the array, wherein the identifier polynucleotides consist of polynucleotides that specifically bind to genes that correlate to a metabolic activity in a microorganism thereby detecting and identifying the genes, the plurality of identifier polynucleotides including at least one of the following: a. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a biofilm formation gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:1 to 86 and their reverse complement sequences; b. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a CO 2 fixation gene selected from SEQ ID Nos: 87 to 101 and their reverse complement sequences; c. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds an energetic metabolism gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:102 to 156 and their reverse complement sequences; d. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a chemotaxis and mobility gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:157 to 192 and their reverse complement sequences; e. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds an iron oxidization gene selected from SEQ ID Nos: 193 to 197 and their reverse complement sequences; f. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a nitrogen metabolism gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:198 to 203 and their reverse complement sequences; g. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a sulfur assimilation gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:204 to 210 and their reverse complement sequences; or h. a polynucleotide or complement thereof that specifically binds a sulfide oxidation/reduction gene selected from SEQ ID Nos:211 to 232 and their reverse complement sequences; where each identifier polynucleotide is present in hundreds of copies, forming dots of homogeneous composition, spatially distributed over the surface of the array.