The invention relates to a process for preparing conjugates consisting of a specific binding partner and a carbohydrate-containing protein, conjugates which can be prepared by this process and their use in enzyme immunoassays.

Novel oligonucleotide conjugates are provided, where oligonucleotides are joined through a linking arm to a hydrophobic moiety. The resulting conjugates are more efficient in membrane transport, so as to be capable of crossing the membrane and effectively modulating a transcriptional system. In this way, the compositions can be used in vitro and in vivo, for studying cellular processes, protecting mammalian hosts from pathogens, and the like.

A method of inhibiting influenza virus replication through the activity of natural (unmodified) or modified oligonucleotides (oligodeoxynucleotides or oligoribonucleotides) which hybridize to a selected region of the influenza virus RNA and interfere with its ability to serve as a template for synthesis of encoded products. Oligonucleotides (unmodified or modified) which have antiviral activity against influenza virus as a result of their ability to hydridze to a selected region of influenza virus RNA and inhibit its ability to serve as a template for synthesis of encoded products, as well as compositions which include the oligonucleotides.

A protein is covalently coupled to a 3'terminal end of a nucleic acid which carries several labels. In an assay the protein will specifically recognize some component of a test system; in an immunoassay the protein can be Protein A which will recognize the FC portion of IgG which is bound to an unknown antigen if present in the test sample.

Nucleic acid hybridization probes are provided which comprise an N.sup.4 -(substituted amino)cytosine moiety, wherein the substituted amino group comprises a tag moiety, whereby the probe is detected. Methods of preparing probes of the invention, intermediates used in such methods, and methods of using the probes of the invention in hybridization assays are also provided. Typical tag moieties employed with the probes of the invention are biotinyl, aminothiadiazole and fluorescein derivatives, connected to N.sup.4 -amino groups of modified cytosines of the probe through linker moieties. Probes tagged with biotin are typically detected by binding to the biotinyl moieties, through a streptavidin or avidin molecule, a reporter group which includes streptavidin or avidin and then detecting a signal due to the reporter group. Probes tagged with aminothiadiazole derivatives are typically detected by essentially the same method as those tagged with biotinyl but employing as reporter group one which binds to the derivative through a carbonic anhydrase molecule. Probes tagged with fluorescein derivatives are detected by a fluorescence spectroscopic method without binding of a reporter group to the tag.