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Abstract

Method of identifying microbial organisms wherein a biological sample containing nucleic acids is hybridized with a collection of polynucleotide probes, each probe having binding specificity for the ribosomal nucleic acids of at least one microbe. The collection of probes is organized into a series of 'addresses' that provide information about the presence or absence of one or more polynucleotide sequences in the biological sample. Probes in the matrix are selected to distinguish between organisms that differ from each other by a known phylogenetic relationship. Advantageously, the invented method can detect and resolve the identities of microorganisms that are present in a mixed culture. The system is particularly suited to automated analysis.

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First Claim