The present invention relates to means for the detection and characterization of nucleic acid sequences, as well as variations in nucleic acid sequences. The present invention also relates to methods for forming a nucleic acid cleavage structure on a target sequence and cleaving the nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific manner. The structure-specific nuclease activity of a variety of enzymes is used to cleave the target-dependent cleavage structure, thereby indicating the presence of specific nucleic acid sequences or specific variations thereof. The present invention further relates to methods and devices for the separation of nucleic acid molecules based on charge. The present invention also provides methods for the detection of non-target cleavage products via the formation of a complete and activated protein binding region. The invention further provides sensitive and specific methods for the detection of nucleic acid from various viruses in a sample.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 10/897,793, filed Jul. 23, 2004, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,530 on Jun. 3, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 09/381,212 filed Feb. 8, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,816, on Mar. 29, 2005, incorporated herein by reference, which is a national stage entry of PCT/US98/05809 filed Mar. 24, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/823,516 filed Mar. 24, 1997, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,069 on Nov. 30, 1999, which is continuation-in-part of PCT/US1997/01072 filed Jan. 22, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/759,038 filed Dec. 2, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,543 on Jul. 18, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/756,386 filed Nov. 29, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,557 on Nov. 16, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/682,853 filed Jul. 12, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,567 on Dec. 14, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/599,491 filed on Jan. 24, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,717 on Dec. 8, 1998. PCT/US1997/01072 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/682,853 filed Jul. 12, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,567 on Dec. 14, 1999, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/599,491 filed Jan. 24, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,717 on Dec. 8, 1998, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 08/756,386 filed Nov. 29, 1996, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,557 on Nov. 16, 1999.
