The present invention relates to methods for improving multiplex real-time PCR assays by the use of an internal control probe labeled with Quasar 705.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for an optimized tissue homogenization buffer composition and a method of using an optimized tissue homogenization buffer for efficient quantitation of a therapeutic oligonucleotide in multiple tissues. The exemplary method comprising: mixing the tissue with a homogenization buffer composition to create a tissue homogenate; adding the tissue homogenate to a quantity of oligonucleotide-free plasma to create a tissue homogenate solution; adding a quantity of a reference standard oligonucleotide to the tissue homogenate solution to create a homogenate/plasma/standard solution; adding a quantity of a phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol to the homogenate/plasma/standard solution; employing centrifugal force to separate a supernatant from the homogenate/plasma/standard solution; and analyzing the supernatant for a concentration of the oligonucleotide.

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing microorganisms obtained from samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and environmental origin. Compositions preserve the viability of the collected organisms and permit the long-term storage of samples. Compositions are compatible with subsequent manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the collected microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and all macromolecules. When the compositions containing microorganisms and any polynucleotides therein are further processed, such as by nucleic acid testing, there is an increased ability to detect, isolate, purify and/or characterize select microbes and their components, such as nucleic acids, when compared to conventional microbial transport media that contain interfering substance(s). In particular formulations, the compositions disclosed herein allow biological samples to be collected, transported, and even stored for extended periods, and are compatible with nucleic acid extraction, identification, quantitation, PCR amplification, and genomic analysis methodologies.

The present disclosure provides methods for optimizing barcode design for multiplex DNA sequencing. Also disclosed are DNA barcodes optimized for use with particular sequencing technologies.

The present invention provides synthetic DNA strands that find use as controls or in nucleic acid testing methods. In particular, provided herein are synthetic DNA strands of known composition for use as control molecules in stool DNA testing, e.g., of mutations and/or methylation of DNA isolated from stool samples.

Provided herein is technology relating to the amplification-based detection of bisulfite-treated DNAs and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and compositions for multiplex amplification of low-level sample DNA prior to further characterization of the sample DNA. The technology further provides methods for isolating DNA from blood or blood product samples, e.g., plasma samples.

The present invention relates to a piRNA-54265 detection kit used for early screening, diagnosis, efficacy monitoring and/or prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancer. The detection kit includes a primers combination, including a primer pair and a probe for specifically detecting piRNA-54265; the primer pair is a piRNA-54265 stem-loop PCR primer pair, or a piRNA-54265 PolyA tailed PCR primer pair; the primer pair includes a forward primer and a reverse primer.

DNA sequencing by sequential addition/incorporation of non 3’capped and fluorescently labeled nucleotides. Each incorporation of individual nucleotides (A, or T or G or C) are separated by a wash. After all incorporation using all four bases, the substrate is imaged then the dyes are cleaved, and the following cycle of incorporations, washes, imaging and cleave is resumed.

The invention relates to methods for decreasing, inhibiting, preventing, or reducing calcification by inhibiting sortilin 1.

A frequency of somatic mutations in a biological sample (e.g., plasma or serum) of a subject undergoing screening or monitoring for cancer, can be compared with that in the constitutional DNA of the same subject. A parameter can derived from these frequencies and used to determine a classification of a level of cancer. False positives can be filtered out by requiring any variant locus to have at least a specified number of variant sequence reads (tags), thereby providing a more accurate parameter. The relative frequencies for different variant loci can be analyzed to determine a level of heterogeneity of tumors in a patient.