The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for acquiring nucleotide sequence information of target sequences. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of sequencing reactions by using fewer labels to distinguish between nucleotides and by detecting nucleotides at multiple detection positions in a target sequence.

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for acquiring nucleotide sequence information of target sequences. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of sequencing reactions by using fewer labels to distinguish between nucleotides and by detecting nucleotides at multiple detection positions in a target sequence.

In certain embodiments, this application discloses methods for detecting lung cancer. The method includes characterization of cells extracted from human sputum, which is a valuable tissue surrogate and source of upper respiratory cells that become cancerous early in 5 the process of lung cancer development. The method includes the staining of extracted cells with fluorescent reporters that produce a specific pattern in the nuclei of labeled cells, which can be made visible by light microscopy. The pattern is relevant to a type of epigenetic coding of DNA known as DNA methylation, which changes in specific cells of the lung during cancer development, in comparison to normal respiratory cells.

In certain embodiments, this application discloses methods for detecting lung cancer. The method includes characterization of cells extracted from human sputum, which is a valuable tissue surrogate and source of upper respiratory cells that become cancerous early in 5 the process of lung cancer development. The method includes the staining of extracted cells with fluorescent reporters that produce a specific pattern in the nuclei of labeled cells, which can be made visible by light microscopy. The pattern is relevant to a type of epigenetic coding of DNA known as DNA methylation, which changes in specific cells of the lung during cancer development, in comparison to normal respiratory cells.

The present invention provides a method of detecting and a method of quantifying oligonucleotides with more excellent specificity and quantitativity as compared to conventional signal amplification (PALSAR) measurement methods.

In the present invention, the problem is solved by hybridizing a target oligonucleotide to be measured with a complementary nucleic acid probe (3′-complementary sequence of target sequence-5′), or hybridizing the target oligonucleotide to be measured having given bases such as poly(A) added thereto with a complementary nucleic acid probe (3′-complementary sequence of target oligonucleotide+complementary sequence of given bases-5′), decomposing and removing an incomplete hybridization product by using a single-strand-specific nuclease such as Si nuclease, and measuring the nucleic acid probe contained in a remaining complete hybridization product by a PALSAR method.

The present invention provides a method of detecting and a method of quantifying oligonucleotides with more excellent specificity and quantitativity as compared to conventional signal amplification (PALSAR) measurement methods.

In the present invention, the problem is solved by hybridizing a target oligonucleotide to be measured with a complementary nucleic acid probe (3′-complementary sequence of target sequence-5′), or hybridizing the target oligonucleotide to be measured having given bases such as poly(A) added thereto with a complementary nucleic acid probe (3′-complementary sequence of target oligonucleotide+complementary sequence of given bases-5′), decomposing and removing an incomplete hybridization product by using a single-strand-specific nuclease such as Si nuclease, and measuring the nucleic acid probe contained in a remaining complete hybridization product by a PALSAR method.

This disclosure relates to a circulating tumour cell typing and identification kit, comprising a capture probe, an amplification probe, and a labeled probe for each marker gene mRNA, wherein the marker gene mRNA comprises the following two types: at least two epithelial cell marker gene mRNAs selected from the group consisting of EPCAM, E-cadherin, CEA, KRT5, KRT7, KRT17, and KRT20 mRNAs; and, at least two mesenchymal cell marker gene mRNAs selected from the group consisting of VIMENTIN, N-cadherin, TWIST1, AKT2, ZEB2, ZEB1, FOXC1, FOXC2, SNAI1 and SNAI2 mRNAs. This disclosure prevents false-positive results caused by, for example, possible presence of a number of non-neoplastic epithelial cells in peripheral blood, introduction of normal epithelial cells during blood sampling, and the like. Accordingly, it may be assured that cells detected with epithelial cell marker genes and/or mesenchymal cell marker genes are indeed circulating tumour cells, further improving accuracy and reliability of the detection results.

This disclosure relates to a circulating tumour cell typing and identification kit, comprising a capture probe, an amplification probe, and a labeled probe for each marker gene mRNA, wherein the marker gene mRNA comprises the following two types: at least two epithelial cell marker gene mRNAs selected from the group consisting of EPCAM, E-cadherin, CEA, KRT5, KRT7, KRT17, and KRT20 mRNAs; and, at least two mesenchymal cell marker gene mRNAs selected from the group consisting of VIMENTIN, N-cadherin, TWIST1, AKT2, ZEB2, ZEB1, FOXC1, FOXC2, SNAI1 and SNAI2 mRNAs. This disclosure prevents false-positive results caused by, for example, possible presence of a number of non-neoplastic epithelial cells in peripheral blood, introduction of normal epithelial cells during blood sampling, and the like. Accordingly, it may be assured that cells detected with epithelial cell marker genes and/or mesenchymal cell marker genes are indeed circulating tumour cells, further improving accuracy and reliability of the detection results.

Methods for screening a multiplicity of respiratory pathogens by isolating nucleic acids from a sample include isolating a nucleic acid from a sample and using solid phase amplification with forward primers SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 or 33 or 35 and corresponding reverse primers SEQ ID NOs: 17 to 32 or 34 or 36 along with probes to generate amplicons. The method further includes employing bead sets which are homogenous with respect to bead size and optionally with respect to the intensity of the label. Binding of a particular amplicon to a subset of beads determines the identity of the respiratory pathogen.

Methods for screening a multiplicity of respiratory pathogens by isolating nucleic acids from a sample include isolating a nucleic acid from a sample and using solid phase amplification with forward primers SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 or 33 or 35 and corresponding reverse primers SEQ ID NOs: 17 to 32 or 34 or 36 along with probes to generate amplicons. The method further includes employing bead sets which are homogenous with respect to bead size and optionally with respect to the intensity of the label. Binding of a particular amplicon to a subset of beads determines the identity of the respiratory pathogen.