Appeal No. 1997-2532
Application No. 08/427,569
types of probes are claimed, i.e., amplifier and capture probes. Each probe has a first
segment, i.e., an oligonucleotide of defined nucleic acid sequence, which hybridizes to a
complementary distinct, separate nucleic acid sequence of the HTLV-1, thereby
"sandwiching" the HTLV-1 between the probes. The capture probe (claims 20-22) has a
second segment of nucleic acids complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of a solid
phase oligonucleotide which allows separation of the complex of the sandwiched HTLV-1
from unreacted assay components, while the amplifier probe (claims 17-19) has a second
segment of nucleic acids complementary to a "connecting" oligonucleotide segment of a
"multimer." Neither second segment is complementary to an HTLV-1 nucleic acid
sequence. In addition to the "connecting" oligonucleotide, the multimer also contains
multiple oligonucleotides which are complementary to a labeled oligonucleotide. Thus,
hybridization between the amplifier probe and the multimer ultimately "amplifies" the
amount of label attached to the sandwich HTLV-1 via hybridization between the multimer
and the labeled oligonucleotide. Claims 23-26 and 27-30 are directed to sets of two or
more amplifier probes having different first segments and sets of two or more capture
probes having different first segments. The first segments of the amplifier and capture
probes comprise sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs. 6-41 and SEQ ID NOs. 42-53,
respectively.
Claims 23 and 31 are illustrative and read as follows:
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