Applications and modifications of aptamers: potential tool for medical microbiology

Abstract

Aptamers are ligands made of single-stranded DNA, oligonucleotide RNA or short peptides which bind specifically to their target molecules with high affinity. They resemble different types of monoclonal, polyclonal and recombinant antibodies in their mode of attachment. Aptamers optimally bind their targets in a range of μmol to ρmol. Targets vary from small molecules to macromolecules to whole cells. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment is an affinity-based screening method for aptamers. Examples of aptamer applications include structural analysis of molecules, affinity/specificity testing, epitope mapping, making aptamer libraries by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, pathogenic targeting, specific molecular targeting, live cell targeting, analytical applications, therapeutic potentials and drug delivery. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is one of the most important bacterial toxins in different disorders. Aptamers offer a fast, feasible, reliable and affordable method for detecting this toxin.

Advances on Aptamers against Protozoan Parasites

“…These modifications can be included directly in the libraries, although some difficulties have been reported with DNA polymerase when processing modified nucleotides. They can also be incorporated at the end of the SELEX strategy, once the aptamers have been obtained, with the risk of altering the affinity and specificity of aptamers [8,39,40].…”

Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric platform technology as rapid and efficient bacterial pathogens detection method from various sources

“…magnetism, and optical properties thanks for their small (10-100 nm) sizes [5][6][7]. Nanomaterials, when combined with biological and molecular tools, exhibit many potential applications in biotechnological and bioanalytical applications; therefore, nanomaterials have many applications in bioassay, biological sensors, drug delivery, and nanoscale design [5,8,9]. In recent years, great progress has been made to make nanoparticles of different materials and tough control over their size, composition and uniformity [9].…”

Antibacterial Effect of Seidlitzia rosmarinus Extract and Silver Nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

“…On the other hand, the side effects of chemical drugs have forced scientists to use herbal extracts in the treatment of diseases (4,5). The indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs has been leading to increase drug resistance against different antibiotics in most bacteria.…”