US Patent:
20040209260, Oct 21, 2004
Inventors:
David Ecker - Encinitas CA, US
Richard Griffey - Vista CA, US
Rangarajan Sampath - San Diego CA, US
Steven Hofstadler - Oceanside CA, US
John McNeil - La Jolla CA, US
Stanley Crooke - Carlsbad CA, US
Dino Sofianos - San Diego CA, US
Karl Rudnick - Solana Beach CA, US
Duane Knize - La Jolla CA, US
Roland Stoughton - San Diego CA, US
Cecil Basham - Del Mar CA, US
Clifford Lewis - San Diego CA, US
Brons Larson - Santee CA, US
Jonathan Bar-on - San Diego CA, US
Dennis Murray - Culver City CA, US
David Robbins - San Diego CA, US
John Penhune - La Jolla CA, US
International Classification:
C12Q001/68
G06F019/00
G01N033/48
G01N033/50
Abstract:
Rapid and definitive bioagent detection and identification can be carried out without nucleic acid sequencing. Analysis of a variety of bioagents and samples, such as air, fluid, and body samples, can be carried out to provide information useful for industrial, medical, and environmental purposes. Nucleic acid samples of unknown or suspected bioagents may be collected, optimal primer pairs may be selected, and the nucleic acid may be amplified. Expected mass spectra signal models may be generated and selected, the actual mass spectra of the amplicons may be obtained. The expected mass spectra most closely correlating with the actual mass spectra may be determined using a joint maximum likelihood analysis, and base counts for the actual mass spectra and the expected mass spectra may be obtained. The most likely candidate bioagents may then be determined.