Inventors:
Weihong Tan - Gainesville FL, US
Dihua Shangguan - Beijing, CN
Ying Li - Gainesville FL, US
International Classification:
C12Q 1/70, C12Q 1/68, C07H 21/04
Abstract:
A system and method for producing an oligonucleotide having a high affinity for extracellular or cell surface markers on a target cell. The resultant oligonucleotide probe can be used to detect a target biomolecule, in particular a cancer cell or infectious agent such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus, comprising an aptamer having a high affinity for the biomolecule, wherein at least one labeled dye is attached to the aptamer. The labeled dye causes the aptamer to emit a baseline, non-visible emission. When the aptamer (also referred to herein as a probe) of the invention interacts with a target biomolecule, the fluorescence emission changes from the baseline emission to an emission that is visually detectable.