Nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting plasmodium parasites

Abstract

This invention relates to novel nucleic acid-based probes and methods for detecting Plasmodium parasites in biological samples as well as detecting different Plasmodium parasites selectively from one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting the presence of  Plasmodium vivax  in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting said sample with a probe suitable for detecting  Plasmodium vivax  in a hybridization assay, the probe consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 1] under conditions that permit said probe to hybridize to  Plasmodium vivax  nucleic acid; and   b) detecting said probe bound to said  Plasmodium vivax  nucleic acid in said sample as an indication of the presence of  Plasmodium vivax  in said sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid probe is a full-length complementary sequence of [SEQ ID NO: 1] thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium vivax  nucleic acid by Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said detecting comprises detecting probe bound to said  Plasmodium vivax  nucleic acid by a Dot Blot assay. 
     
     
         5 . A composition comprising the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 1]. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising the complementary sequence to the nucleotide sequence consisting of [SEQ ID NO: 1].