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In Vitro Selection of Aptamers to Differentiate Infectious from Non-Infectious Viruses
Published on: September 7, 2022
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Oligonucleotide aptamers for pathogen detection and infectious disease control
Quanyuan Wan1, Xiaohui Liu1, Youli Zu1
1Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Theranostics
|September 15, 2021
Summary
Oligonucleotide aptamers offer rapid development of diagnostics and therapeutics for infectious diseases. These molecules can detect pathogens and aid in controlling disease spread and boosting immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Disease Research
Background:
- Rapid development of diagnostics and therapeutics is crucial during epidemics and pandemics.
- Oligonucleotide aptamers are synthetic molecules that can be rapidly synthesized and designed to bind specific targets.
- Aptamers show promise for both detecting pathogens and acting as therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review aptamer-based diagnostic techniques for communicable diseases.
- To summarize existing aptamers targeting various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.
- To discuss the potential of aptamers in controlling pathogen spread and enhancing host immunity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of aptamer-based diagnostic assays.
- Compilation of known aptamers targeting infectious disease agents.
- Analysis of aptamer mechanisms for pathogen control and immune modulation.
Main Results:
- Aptamers can be quickly synthesized for pathogen detection and therapeutic applications.
- Various aptamers targeting diverse pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, have been identified.
- Oligonucleotide aptamers demonstrate potential for controlling pathogen propagation.
Conclusions:
- Aptamer technology provides a versatile platform for developing diagnostics and therapeutics against infectious diseases.
- Further research into aptamer applications can significantly advance the fight against communicable diseases.
- This review serves as a resource for developing novel aptamer-based solutions for infectious disease management.
