Applications and modifications of aptamers: potential tool for medical microbiology

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.