Biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome

1. A biomarker consisting of between 6 and 35 different nucleic acid probe sets, wherein:

(a) a first probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:3 (BLCAP), or a full complement thereof;

(b) a second probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:5 (UBE2G1), or a full complement thereof;

(c) a third probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:6 (CALM3), or a full complement thereof;

(d) a fourth probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 (NONO), or a full complement thereof;

(e) a fifth probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 (RAP1A), or a full complement thereof; and

(f) a sixth probe set consists of one or more nucleotide probes consisting of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8 (GPX1), or a full complement thereof;

wherein each of the between 6 and 35 different probe sets consists of one or more probes of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides, or full complements thereof, of a different mRNA, and wherein each of the different probe sets is optionally detectably labeled.

2. The biomarker of claim 1 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 25 probe sets.

3. The biomarker of claim 1 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 15 probe sets.

4. The biomarker of claim 1 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 8 probe sets.

5. A biomarker consisting of between 6 and 35 different nucleic acid primer pairs, wherein:

(a) a first primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:3 (BLCAP), wherein each primer in the first primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:3 (BLCAP), or a full complement thereof;

(b) a second primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:5 (UBE2G1), wherein each primer in the second primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:5 (UBE2G1), or a full complement thereof;

(c) a third primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:6 (CALM3), wherein each primer in the third primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:6 (CALM3), or a full complement thereof;

(d) a fourth primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:13 (NONO), wherein each primer in the fourth primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 (NONO), or a full complement thereof;

(e) a fifth primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 (RAP1A), wherein each primer in the fifth primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 (RAP1A), or a full complement thereof; and

(f) a sixth primer pair is capable of selectively amplifying a detectable portion of SEQ ID NO:7 and/or SEQ ID NO:8 (GPX1), wherein each primer in the sixth primer pair consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8 (GPX1), or a full complement thereof;

wherein each of the between 6 and 35 different primer pairs consists of one or more primer pairs, wherein each primer consists of 15 or more contiguous nucleotides, or full complements thereof, for a different, and wherein each of the different primer pairs is optionally detectably labeled.

6. The biomarker of claim 5 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 25 primer pairs.

7. The biomarker of claim 5 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 15 primer pairs.

8. The biomarker of claim 5 , wherein the biomarker consists of between 6 and 8 primer pairs.