title: A dumbbell-like complex formation for DNA target assay.
abstract: A simple and highly sensitive test for the detection of nucleic acid targets is described. It is based upon complex formation between a small-diameter magnetic particle and a larger and nonmagnetic particle through a hybridization reaction, what we have called a dumbbell-like complex. During the different steps, nonreacting nonmagnetic conjugates were eliminated by magnetic separation. At the end of the process, dumbbell complex number was estimated by counting under a microscope. Compared to the already described two-particle tests, our model was able to reach higher sensitivities, with a threshold typically in the amol/mL range (10(6) copies of HIV DNA/mL) without the need for complex instrumentation or genomic amplification reactions.
authors.affiliation: Unité mixte CNRS/bioMérieux, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69007 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theretz
mesh_terms: D001710:Biotin; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D017612:Gold Compounds; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008722:Methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008863:Microspheres; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000592:standards; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019809:Streptavidin
chemical_list: D017612:Gold Compounds; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D001710:Biotin; D004247:DNA; D019809:Streptavidin; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase