Nucleic acids and methods for the detection of streptococcus

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Nucleic acids, methods and diagnostic kits for detecting in a sample at least one microorganism belonging to the Streptococcus genus are provided. The method comprises i) contacting the sample with at least one species-specific or genus- specific oligonucleotide selected to be sufficiently complementary to hybridize to at least one tuf nucleic acid specific to the genus; ii) Allowing the oligonucleotide and the tuf nucleic acid to hybridize under conditions such that the oligonucleotide hybridizes to the tuf nucleic acid wherein the oligonucleotide hybridizes only to microorganisms belonging to the target Streptococcus genus and does not detectably hybridize to tuf nucleic acids from …