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Selection and Characterization of DNA Aptamers Targeting All Four Serotypes of Dengue Viruses

Overview of Chen HL et al.

AuthorsChen HL  Hsiao WH  Lee HC  Wu SC  Cheng JW  
AffiliationInstitute of Biotechnology and Department of Life Science   National Tsing Hua University   Hsinchu 300   Taiwan.  
JournalPLoS One
Year 2015

Abstract


Dengue viruses (DENVs) are members of Flaviviridae family, which are associated with human disease. The envelope (E) protein plays an important role in viral infection. However, there is no effective antibody for clinical treatment due to antibody dependent enhancement of infection. In this study, using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), we demonstrated the first aptamer (S15) that can bind to DENV-2 envelop protein domain III (ED3) with a high binding affinity. S15 was found to form a parallel quadruplex based on Quadfinder prediction, gel mobility assay and circular dichroism studies. Both the quadruplex structure and the sequence on 5'-end were necessary for the binding activity of S15. NMR titration experiments indicated that S15 bound to a highly conserved loop between βA and βB strands of ED3. Moreover, S15 can neutralize the infections by all four serotypes of DENVs. Our result provides a new opportunity in the development of DNA aptamers against DENVs in the future.