Universal nucleic acid amplification system for nucleic acids in a sample

Abstract

Methods for amplifying nucleic acid in a sample including providing the sample with a set of primers to enable synthesis of at least one nucleic acid strand complementary to at least part of the nucleic acid, wherein the set of primers comprises between 3-8 random bases, preferably clustered near the 3′ end of each primer in said set of primers. The methods of the invention are useful, for example, for determining whether samples derived from humans, mammals, poultry, or fish comprise nucleic acid of a pathogen. The methods are further suited for typing the pathogen and typing particular variants of said pathogen. The methods are also suited for the elucidation of the gene expression profile or genetic profile of cells.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A method for preferentially amplifying at least part of a viral nucleic acid, said method comprising: 
 providing a sample comprising said viral nucleic acid;    providing said sample with a set of oligonucleotides comprising at least one of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2;    subjecting said sample to a nucleic acid amplification reaction; and    detecting amplified viral nucleic acid in said sample.    
     
     
         16 . A nucleic acid amplification reaction of the type providing one or more tags enabling further amplification and/or detection of complementary nucleic acid generated in said nucleic acid amplification reaction, wherein the improvement comprises using a set of primers, each member of said set of primers comprising between 3 and 8 random bases clustered around the 3′ end and one or more essentially constant sequences clustered at essentially the 5′ ends.  
     
     
         17 . The nucleic acid amplification reaction of  claim 16 , wherein said set of primers provides an essentially constant template for detection and/or further amplification of said complementary nucleic acid.  
     
     
         18 . A kit of parts for implementing a nucleic acid amplification reaction on a sample comprising nucleic acid, said kit of parts comprising: 
 a set of primers comprising between 3 and 8 random bases.    
     
     
         19 . The kit of parts of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 means for implementing a nucleic acid amplification reaction on said sample using said set of primers.    
     
     
         20 . The kit of parts of  claim 18 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises nucleic acid from a microorganism or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The kit of parts of  claim 17 , wherein said set of primers comprises at least one of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         22 . (canceled)