This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

This invention relates to methods for molecular detection, particularly to methods utilizing target-specific molecular probes. In exemplary embodiments, target-specific molecular probes include single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. In general, the molecular probe may bind with relatively high specificity to a given target. In one aspect, a method for molecular detection comprises a molecular probe paired to a reporter molecule wherein the molecular probe impairs the amplification of the reporter molecule in the absence of the target molecule.

The present invention concerns an oligonucleotide-functionalized hydrophobic polymer nanoparticle and method of its preparation. Said nanoparticle is a dye-loaded polymeric nanoparticle, and being functionalized by: (a) target-specific oligonucleotides, and/or (b) non-specific oligonucleotides.

The present invention concerns an oligonucleotide-functionalized hydrophobic polymer nanoparticle and method of its preparation. Said nanoparticle is a dye-loaded polymeric nanoparticle, and being functionalized by: (a) target-specific oligonucleotides, and/or (b) non-specific oligonucleotides.

In one aspect, the invention features a combination of oligonucleotides comprising a forward primer oligonucleotide and a blocking oligonucleotide. The forward primer oligonucleotide has a 3′ end region, where the 3′ end region includes a portion complementary to a mutation positioned in a region within a polynucleotide. The blocking oligonucleotide contains a blocking moiety and has a 5′ end region, where the 5′ end region includes a portion complementary to a wild-type sequence of the region corresponding to the position of the mutation. In other aspects, the invention provides kits including the combination of primer oligonucleotides and methods of using the oligonucleotides to detect a mutation in a polynucleotide.

In one aspect, the invention features a combination of oligonucleotides comprising a forward primer oligonucleotide and a blocking oligonucleotide. The forward primer oligonucleotide has a 3′ end region, where the 3′ end region includes a portion complementary to a mutation positioned in a region within a polynucleotide. The blocking oligonucleotide contains a blocking moiety and has a 5′ end region, where the 5′ end region includes a portion complementary to a wild-type sequence of the region corresponding to the position of the mutation. In other aspects, the invention provides kits including the combination of primer oligonucleotides and methods of using the oligonucleotides to detect a mutation in a polynucleotide.

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”).

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”).

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for detecting RNA binding sites and RNA interacting partners involving the use of a modified capture oligonucleotide having a dual toehold design.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for detecting RNA binding sites and RNA interacting partners involving the use of a modified capture oligonucleotide having a dual toehold design.