The present invention provides a method for detecting a target nucleic acid that discriminates the target nucleic acid from a non-target nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence or modification state that differs from a portion of the target nucleic acid, the method comprising conducting a nucleic acid amplification reaction using a region in the non-target nucleic acid that differs from the target nucleic acid as a target region, using a region in the target nucleic acid that differs from the non-target nucleic acid as a corresponding target region, using a nucleic acid test sample as a template, and using a primer that hybridizes with both the target nucleic acid and the non-target nucleic acid, with the nucleic acid amplification reaction conducted in the presence of a molecule capable of binding specifically to the target region in the non-target nucleic acid, under temperature conditions under which the molecule can bind to the non-target nucleic acid, and then detecting the target nucleic acid on the basis of the presence or absence of an amplification product.

Provided herein are methods, systems, and compositions for determining a base in a polynucleotide. In various aspects, the methods, systems, and compositions presented herein are useful for performing 4-base, 5-base, or 6-base sequencing of polynucleotide molecules, for example, from liquid biopsy samples or wherein the base is a low frequency mutation.

Provided herein are methods, systems, and compositions for determining a base in a polynucleotide. In various aspects, the methods, systems, and compositions presented herein are useful for performing 4-base, 5-base, or 6-base sequencing of polynucleotide molecules, for example, from liquid biopsy samples or wherein the base is a low frequency mutation.

Provided herein are methods of identifying a methylation status of an analyte in a biological sample. Also provided herein are methods that combine identifying the methylation status with spatial technology to identify the location of a methylation status in a biological sample.

Provided herein are methods of identifying a methylation status of an analyte in a biological sample. Also provided herein are methods that combine identifying the methylation status with spatial technology to identify the location of a methylation status in a biological sample.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for determining and/or characterizing one or more haplotypes and/or phasing of haplotypes in a nucleic acid sample. In particular, the disclosure provides methods for determining a haplotype and/or phasing of haplotypes in a nucleic acid sample by incorporating synthetic polymorphisms into fragments of a nucleic acid sample and utilizing the synthetic polymorphisms in determining one or more haplotypes and/or phasing of haplotypes.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for determining and/or characterizing one or more haplotypes and/or phasing of haplotypes in a nucleic acid sample. In particular, the disclosure provides methods for determining a haplotype and/or phasing of haplotypes in a nucleic acid sample by incorporating synthetic polymorphisms into fragments of a nucleic acid sample and utilizing the synthetic polymorphisms in determining one or more haplotypes and/or phasing of haplotypes.

In various embodiments methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided. In one illustrative, but non-limiting embodiment the method comprises i) contacting a biological sample comprising a nucleic acid to a first matrix material comprising a first column or filter where said matrix material binds and/or filters nucleic acids in said sample and thereby purifies the DNA; ii) eluting the bound DNA from the first matrix material and denaturing the DNA to produce eluted denatured DNA; iii) heating the eluted DNA in the presence of bisulfite ions to produce a deaminated nucleic acid; iv) contacting said deaminated nucleic acid to a second matrix material comprising a second column to bind said deaminated nucleic acid to said second matrix material; v) desulfonating the bound deaminated nucleic acid and/or simultaneously eluting and desulfonating the nucleic acid by contacting the deaminated nucleic acid with an alkaline solution to produce a bisulfite converted nucleic acid; vi) eluting said bisulfite converted nucleic acid from said second matrix material; and vii) performing methylation specific PCR and/or nucleic acid sequencing, and/or high resolution melting analysis (HRM) on said bisulfite-converted nucleic acid to determine the methylation of said nucleic acid, wherein at least steps iv) through vi) are performed in a single reaction cartridge.

In various embodiments methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided. In one illustrative, but non-limiting embodiment the method comprises i) contacting a biological sample comprising a nucleic acid to a first matrix material comprising a first column or filter where said matrix material binds and/or filters nucleic acids in said sample and thereby purifies the DNA; ii) eluting the bound DNA from the first matrix material and denaturing the DNA to produce eluted denatured DNA; iii) heating the eluted DNA in the presence of bisulfite ions to produce a deaminated nucleic acid; iv) contacting said deaminated nucleic acid to a second matrix material comprising a second column to bind said deaminated nucleic acid to said second matrix material; v) desulfonating the bound deaminated nucleic acid and/or simultaneously eluting and desulfonating the nucleic acid by contacting the deaminated nucleic acid with an alkaline solution to produce a bisulfite converted nucleic acid; vi) eluting said bisulfite converted nucleic acid from said second matrix material; and vii) performing methylation specific PCR and/or nucleic acid sequencing, and/or high resolution melting analysis (HRM) on said bisulfite-converted nucleic acid to determine the methylation of said nucleic acid, wherein at least steps iv) through vi) are performed in a single reaction cartridge.

Provided herein are automated apparatus and methods for the identification of microorganisms in various samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying and distinguishing various types of microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria in a timely, efficient, and automated manner by library preparation and sequencing.