ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the use of the aptamer technique as a novel approach for developing high-affinity ligands binding to the pathogens or to biomarkers liberated by them. Aptamers are raised by using the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) protocol, based on screening of a combinatorial ribonucleic acid or DNA library for binding a target cell or protein. High-affinity and specificity aptamers have been discovered that bind to several epitopes of the viral transcriptase reverse, an enzyme that catalyzes an essential step for viral replication. The chapter describes the status of the SELEX applications on pathogens, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Millions of people worldwide are affected by tuberculosis or multidrug-resistant bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella enterica, which make infectious diseases a public health problem. Aptamers have the ability to selectively identify structures in a mixture of potential targets and can also be used for ligand-mediated target purification.