Nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting
This invention relates to novel nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting Plasmodium parasites as well as detecting different Plasmodium parasites selectively from one another.
1. A method for detecting the presence of Plasmodium in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
a) contacting said sample with a probe for detecting Plasmodium in a hybridization assay, wherein said probe is SEQ ID NO.: 1 or the full-length complementary sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1, under conditions that permit said probe to hybridize to Plasmodium nucleic acid; and
b) detecting said probe bound to the Plasmodium nucleic acid in said sample as an indication of the presence of Plasmodium in said sample.
2. A method of claim 1 , wherein said probe is the full-length complementary sequence of SEQ ID NO.: 1.