In some embodiments, the present inventions relates generally to compositions, methods and kits for use in discriminating sequence variation between different alleles. More specifically, in some embodiments, the present invention provides for compositions, methods and kits for quantitating rare (e.g., mutant) allelic variants, such as SNPs, or nucleotide (NT) insertions or deletions, in samples comprising abundant (e.g., wild type) allelic variants with high specificity and selectivity. In particular, in some embodiments, the invention relates to a highly selective method for mutation detection referred to as competitive allele-specific TaqMan PCR (“cast-PCR”).

Systems and methods for detecting at least two genomic alleles associated with corneal dystrophy in a sample from a human subject are disclosed in which cells (e.g., epithelial) of the subject are adhered to a tip of a substrate. The tip of the substrate is agitated in a lysis solution that lyses cells adhered to the substrate. The substrate is removed from the lysis solution upon completion of this agitation. The resulting lysis solution is incubated and then genomic DNA from the lysis solution is isolated to form a gDNA solution. From this, identity of at least two nucleotides present in the human TGFβI gene is determined using at least two oligonucleotide primer pairs and the gDNA solution. These at least two nucleotides are located at respective independent positions of the TGFβI gene corresponding to respective independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with corneal dystrophy.

Systems and methods for detecting at least two genomic alleles associated with corneal dystrophy in a sample from a human subject are disclosed in which cells (e.g., epithelial) of the subject are adhered to a tip of a substrate. The tip of the substrate is agitated in a lysis solution that lyses cells adhered to the substrate. The substrate is removed from the lysis solution upon completion of this agitation. The resulting lysis solution is incubated and then genomic DNA from the lysis solution is isolated to form a gDNA solution. From this, identity of at least two nucleotides present in the human TGFβI gene is determined using at least two oligonucleotide primer pairs and the gDNA solution. These at least two nucleotides are located at respective independent positions of the TGFβI gene corresponding to respective independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with corneal dystrophy.

The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of lung cancer. The inventors showed that FHIT (also known as bis(5-adenosyl)-triphosphatase) regulates HER2 activity in lung tumor cells and that HER2 inhibitors reduce invasion induced by FHIT inhibition. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of treating lung cancer in a patient in need thereof comprising the steps of i) determining the expression level of FHIT in a tumor tissue sample obtained from the patient, ii) comparing the expression level determined at step i) with a predetermined reference value and iii) administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one HER2 inhibitor when the expression level determined at step i) is lower than the predetermined reference level.

This invention provides methods and systems for measuring the concentration of multiple nucleic acid sequences in a sample. The nucleic acid sequences in the sample are simultaneously amplified, for example, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the presence of an array of nucleic acid probes. The amount of amplicon corresponding to the multiple nucleic acid sequences can be measured in real-time during or after each cycle using a real-time microarray. The measured amount of amplicon produced can be used to determine the original amount of the nucleic acid sequences in the sample. Also provided herein are biosensor arrays, systems and methods for affinity based assays that are able to simultaneously obtain high quality measurements of the binding characteristics of multiple analytes, and that are able to determine the amounts of those analytes in solution. The invention also provides a fully integrated bioarray for detecting real-time characteristics of affinity based assays.

This invention provides methods and systems for measuring the concentration of multiple nucleic acid sequences in a sample. The nucleic acid sequences in the sample are simultaneously amplified, for example, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the presence of an array of nucleic acid probes. The amount of amplicon corresponding to the multiple nucleic acid sequences can be measured in real-time during or after each cycle using a real-time microarray. The measured amount of amplicon produced can be used to determine the original amount of the nucleic acid sequences in the sample. Also provided herein are biosensor arrays, systems and methods for affinity based assays that are able to simultaneously obtain high quality measurements of the binding characteristics of multiple analytes, and that are able to determine the amounts of those analytes in solution. The invention also provides a fully integrated bioarray for detecting real-time characteristics of affinity based assays.

The present invention relates to a method to determine bisulfite conversion of unmethylated cytosine to uracil in genomic DNA, comprising the steps of providing a first set of amplification primers for amplifying bisulfite converted copies of a repetitive DNA element by qPCR and a second set of amplification primers for amplifying unconverted copies of said repetitive DNA element by qPCR, performing a multiplex qPCR with said first and second set of amplification primers to generate amplicons, and determining the bisulfite conversion efficiency by comparing the amounts of said first and second amplicon.

The present invention relates to a method to determine bisulfite conversion of unmethylated cytosine to uracil in genomic DNA, comprising the steps of providing a first set of amplification primers for amplifying bisulfite converted copies of a repetitive DNA element by qPCR and a second set of amplification primers for amplifying unconverted copies of said repetitive DNA element by qPCR, performing a multiplex qPCR with said first and second set of amplification primers to generate amplicons, and determining the bisulfite conversion efficiency by comparing the amounts of said first and second amplicon.

The present disclosure relates, in part, to improved methods of making single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), as well as use of the resulting ssDNA for genome engineering. The disclosure also relates, in part, to improved methods of genetic modification using single stranded DNA binding proteins.

The present disclosure relates, in part, to improved methods of making single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), as well as use of the resulting ssDNA for genome engineering. The disclosure also relates, in part, to improved methods of genetic modification using single stranded DNA binding proteins.