Using cell-based aptamer selection, we have developed a strategy to use the differences at the molecular level between any two types of cells for the identification of molecular signatures on the surface of targeted cells. A group of aptamers have been generated for the specific recognition of leukemia cells. The selected aptamers can bind to target cells with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) in the nanomolar-to-picomolar range. The cell-based selection process is simple, fast, straightforward, and reproducible, and, most importantly, can be done without prior knowledge of target molecules. The selected aptamers can specifically recognize target leukemia cells mixed with normal human bone marrow aspirates and can also identify cancer cells closely related to the target cell line in real clinical specimens. The cell-based aptamer selection holds a great promise in developing specific molecular probes for cancer diagnosis and cancer biomarker discovery.cell-based selection ͉ cell imaging ͉ DNA aptamers
The
World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of a novel
coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) as a global pandemic. However,
the mechanisms behind the coronavirus infection are not yet fully
understood, nor are there any targeted treatments or vaccines. In
this study, we identified high-binding-affinity aptamers targeting
SARS-CoV-2 RBD, using an ACE2 competition-based aptamer selection
strategy and a machine learning screening algorithm. The K
d values of the optimized CoV2-RBD-1C and CoV2-RBD-4C
aptamers against RBD were 5.8 nM and 19.9 nM, respectively. Simulated
interaction modeling, along with competitive experiments, suggests
that two aptamers may have partially identical binding sites at ACE2
on SARS-CoV-2 RBD. These aptamers present an opportunity for generating
new probes for recognition of SARS-CoV-2 and could provide assistance
in the diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 while providing a new
tool for in-depth study of the mechanisms behind the coronavirus infection.
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