Rapid Methods for the Extraction of Nucleic Acids from Biological Samples

Abstract

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for rapidly and efficiently extracting nucleic acids and/or targeted nucleic acids sequences from biological samples. The methods of the invention comprise combining the sample with a buffer and magnetic silicon beads and concentrating the beads with a magnet or other electrical field. Liquid may be removed, or not, and an alkaline buffer is added followed by magnetic carboxy beads in a binding buffer so that nucleic acids transfer to the carboxy beads, which can be easily and quickly isolated once again with a magnet. Total nucleic acid extraction is greatly enhanced. Extracted nucleic acids can be analyzed, for example, by PCR wherein the nucleic acids can be identified and characterized. Carboxy beads may also contain a ligand so as to target specific nucleic acid sequences. The invention is also directed to kits comprising the tools and compositions for performing the methods of the invention.

1 . A method of extracting nucleic acids from a biological sample containing cells and/or microorganisms comprising:
 combining the biological sample with a lysis buffer to form a mix;   combining the mix with magnetic matrix material to form a solution, wherein neither the buffer or matrix material disrupt the cells and/or microorganisms of the biological sample and the magnetic matrix material binds to nucleic acids of the biological sample other than those present within the cells and/or microorganisms;   exposing the solution to a magnetic field and removing liquid to concentrate the magnetic matrix material;   adding an alkaline buffer to the concentrated magnetic matrix material to form a mixture, wherein the alkaline buffer causes the release of nucleic acids from the magnetic matrix material;   adding carboxy-modified magnetic beads in a binding buffer to the mixture wherein the carboxy-modified magnetic beads bind to the specific nucleic acid sequences;   exposing the mixture to a magnetic field and removing liquid to isolate the carboxy-modified magnetic beads bound to the specific nucleic acid sequences; and   eluting the one or more specific nucleic acid sequences from the carboxy-modified magnetic beads using purified water and/or a Tris-EDTA buffer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lysis buffer comprises a chaotrope, a detergent, a reducing agent, a buffer, and a chelator at a pH of about 6-8. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample combined with buffer is stored for between about 2 days to about 90 days before combining with magnetic matrix material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the biological sample combined with buffer is stored for between about 2 days to about 20 days before combining with magnetic matrix material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binding buffer comprises PEG, a salt, a buffering agent, a chelator, a detergent, NLS and an alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , which does not involve centrifugation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , which is performed in a single vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which is automated for high-throughput analysis of a plurality of biological samples. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the specific nucleic acid sequences by a PCR. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying the specific nucleic acid sequences.