Revelation of DNA aptamer sequences that bind Cyclospora cayetanensis

This article completes the preliminary work published in the Journal of Fluorescence (PMID: 38109032) that demonstrated both external surface and seemingly internal binding of DNA aptamers to Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts by disclosing the actual aptamer DNA sequences for public scrutiny and use in experimentation. These aptamer DNA sequences were previously held as trade secrets due to their perceived potential commercial value, but given the inability to generate much commercial interest in the aptamers for diagnostics applications, the author has decided to reveal the sequences so that other researchers may further study aptamer binding to the oocysts especially with regard to the unexpected internal binding. The author also shows that these aptamers appear useful in binding magnetic microbeads to the oocysts in buffer. Thus, perhaps the aptamers can be validated for magnetic separation of oocysts in more complex natural water or sewage samples as well. And finally, the public disclosure of these sequences could be applied to lateral flow test strip, Western blots and ELISA-like or other diagnostic assays. Both the refined and vetted list of highest affinity and most specific aptamer sequences against known Cyclospora cayetanensis proteins and whole oocysts as well as the comprehensive lists of thousands of aptamer sequences from next generation Illumina-based sequencing are disclosed.