Identification and isolation of fetal cells and nucleic acids by using an antibody which binds an fetal nucleosome epitope associated with histone H3.1

摘要

Disclosed is a method for detecting the presence of fetal nucleic acids in a biological sample comprising: contacting the biological sample with an antibody that specifically binds to a fetal nucleosome epitope, and detecting the binding of the antibody to a nucleosome in the biological sample, wherein specific binding of the antibody to a nucleosome is indicative of the presence of fetal nucleic acids; and wherein the biological sample is a cervical mucus, amniotic fluid, or chorionic villus sample. Further disclosed is a method for isolating nucleic acid of a fetus comprising: isolating nucleic acid from a biological sample obtained from a maternal host of the fetus using an antibody that specifically binds to a fetal nucleosome epitope, wherein the biological sample is cervical mucus, amniotic fluid, or chorionic villus sample.