A serum-stable RNA aptamer specific for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizes viral entry.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 118(50)2021 12 14.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1559358
ABSTRACT
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created an urgent need for new technologies to treat COVID-19. Here we report a 2'-fluoro protected RNA aptamer that binds with high affinity to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, thereby preventing its interaction with the host receptor ACE2. A trimerized version of the RNA aptamer matching the three RBDs in each spike complex enhances binding affinity down to the low picomolar range. Binding mode and specificity for the aptamer-spike interaction is supported by biolayer interferometry, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, and flow-induced dispersion analysis in vitro. Cell culture experiments using virus-like particles and live SARS-CoV-2 show that the aptamer and, to a larger extent, the trimeric aptamer can efficiently block viral infection at low concentration. Finally, the aptamer maintains its high binding affinity to spike from other circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting that it could find widespread use for the detection and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aptamers, Nucleotide
/
Virus Internalization
/
SARS-CoV-2
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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