Abstract

Detector fusion molecules are produced by attaching a protein sub-unit to a linker, and attaching the linker to a nucleic acid molecule. The detector fusion molecules have utility in detecting and quantifying a specific target analyte from a sample. The protein sub-unit of the detector fusion molecule is selected to specifically bind the specific target analyte. The nucleic acid molecule of the detector fusion molecule is used as a tag, thus allowing for the detection and quantification of the target analyte. The sample is contacted with detector fusion molecules, thereby allowing detector fusion molecules to specifically bind any specific target analytes in the sample. The nucleic acid molecule of the detector fusion molecule is amplified using known processes, thereby producing an amplification product. The amplification product is detected and quantified, thus determining an amount of the target analyte in the sample.