*2.9. LNA Probe Synthesis*

LNA modified DNA oligonucleotide probe, containing an LNA nucleotide at every third position, and labeled at the 59 end only, or at the 59 and 39 ends, with DIG, were supplied by Exiqon Inc. (Vedbaek, Denmark). NT6 probe was designed using the Primer3 primer design program [28] and checked using the LNA Oligo Optimizer tool on the Exiqon website (www.exiqon.com) (see Table 1). Probe sequence was screened against all known *N. furzeri* sequences using BLAST. LNA probe typically shows single nucleotide specificity [30]. Negative control was mismatch probe, designed and synthesized by Exiqon Inc. (see Table 1).


**Table 1.** LNA probe and mismatch probe.

\* mut NT-6 DIG TTGTCTC**TC**GCTG**CT**CTGCT**TC**G DIG \* Mutations are shown bolded.
