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In Vitro Selection of Aptamers to Differentiate Infectious from Non-Infectious Viruses
Published on: September 7, 2022
Generating aptamers for recognition of virus-infected cells
Zhiwen Tang1, Parag Parekh, Pete Turner
1Departments of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Clinical Chemistry
|February 28, 2009
Summary
Researchers developed DNA aptamers as molecular probes to selectively target virus-infected cells. These aptamer probes show promise for diagnostics, therapeutics, and drug delivery against viral infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Developing molecular probes for virus-infected cells is crucial for addressing clinical, therapeutic, and national security challenges.
- DNA aptamers offer a novel approach for selective targeting of infected cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop DNA aptamer probes for the selective recognition and targeting of virus-infected living cells.
- To utilize cell-SELEX for aptamer selection against infected cells.
Main Methods:
- Employed cell-systematic evolution of ligands via exponential enrichment (cell-SELEX) using vaccinia virus-infected and uninfected A549 lung cancer cells.
- Selected aptamers that bind specifically to intact, infected live cells.
Main Results:
- A panel of DNA aptamers was successfully evolved using the infected cell-SELEX procedure.
- These aptamers demonstrated selective binding to vaccinia virus-infected A549 cells with nanomolar affinity.
- The aptamers recognized various infected cell lines, likely targeting a viral surface protein.
Conclusions:
- The development of DNA aptamer probes via whole living cell-SELEX enhances understanding of infected cell molecular signatures.
- Findings suggest aptamers can serve as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents for infected cells.
- Aptamers show potential for facilitating targeted drug delivery against virus-infected cells.
