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A SARS-CoV-2 Spike Binding DNA Aptamer that Inhibits Pseudovirus Infection by an RBD-Independent Mechanism.
Anton Schmitz1,2, Anna Weber1,3, Mehtap Bayin1,2
1Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) University of Bonn Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1 53121 Bonn Germany.
Angewandte Chemie (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 7, 2021
Summary
A novel aptamer effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral infection by targeting the virus, not ACE2. This discovery offers new strategies for developing SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors against emerging variants.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Biotechnology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein's receptor binding domain (RBD) binds to human ACE2, initiating viral entry.
- Understanding alternative viral entry mechanisms is crucial for developing broad-spectrum inhibitors, especially against mutant strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel aptamers targeting SARS-CoV-2.
- To investigate the mechanism of action of a newly identified aptamer against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- Automated aptamer selection process.
- Binding assays to assess aptamer interaction with CoV2-S RBD and ACE2.
- Pseudoviral infection assays to evaluate aptamer efficacy.
Main Results:
- An aptamer was identified that specifically interacts with CoV2-S.
- The aptamer does not bind to the CoV2-S RBD or block ACE2 interaction.
- The aptamer demonstrated potent and specific inhibition of pseudoviral infection.
Conclusions:
- Aptamers can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection through mechanisms independent of ACE2 binding.
- This study presents aptamers as promising drug candidates for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.
- The findings provide new tools for studying viral entry and developing therapies against resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants.
