METHOD FOR DETECTING MICROORGANISMS IN A SAMPLE

• Main Authors: von Stein, Walter, Stange, Mirko
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.07.2019
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; ENZYMOLOGY; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SPIRITS; VINEGAR; WINE

A method for detecting at least one specific microorganism in a sample is disclosed, wherein a probe nucleic acid sequence comprising at least one detectable label which is capable of emitting at least one detectable signal is provided, and wherein the detectable signal takes a first value when the probe sequence is not bound to the target sequence and a second value when the probe sequence is bound to the target sequence. At least one value of the detectable signal for the probe nucleic acid sequence is measured and analyzed, wherein it is indicated that the sample contains the microorganism if the measured value corresponds to the second value of the detectable signal. A significant difference between a probe sequence that hybridizes with a target sequence (signal (2)) and a control sequence which does not bind to any target (signal (1)) can be detected. Throughout all phases (heating, stationary and cooling) of a hybridization process, the value of the detectable signal (2) is higher than the value of the control signal (1), wherein the most significant difference can be observed at the end of the cooling phase (Δ3) so that measuring and analyzing the detectable signal (2) during this period provides the most reliable result. Alternatively or optionally, additional measuring points in other phases (Δ1 and/or Δ2) can be set in order to enhance reliability of the result.