METHOD FOR DETECTING NUCLEIC ACIDS

摘要

This invention relates to detecting nucleic acids. It employs a double-stranded oligonucleotide probe comprising i)a first probe comprising a first label moiety capable of emitting a measurable signal, and ii) a second probe being partially complementary with the first probe and comprising a second label moiety capable of interacting with the first moiety when brought in close proximity with each other, the second moiety being a quencher or acceptor of emission of the first moiety. The first or second probe comprises a sequence being complementary to that of a target nucleotide, and the second or first probe, respectively, comprises a sequence being complementary to a complement of the target nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid to be detected. The first and the second moieties are attached to the first and second probes respectively in a manner wherein the distance between the first and second moieties is not more than 7 base pairs apart. The complementary sequences of the double-stranded probe is shorter than the full sequence of both the first and second single-stranded probes. The first and second probes have a higher Tm when hybridized with the target nucleotide sequence compared to the Tm of the double-stranded probe. The intensity of the signal of the first label when the first probe is not hybridized to the second probe is higher or lower than the intensity of the signal of the first label when the first probe is hybridized to the second probe. This invention also relates to oligonucleotides for determining Chlamydia trachomatis.