Generation of RNA aptamers against chikungunya virus E2 envelope protein.

ABSTRACT: Nucleic acid aptamers are a promising drug modality, whereas the generation of virus-neutralizing aptamers has remained difficult due to the lack of a robust system for targeting the viral particles of interest. Here, we took advantage of our latest platform technology of Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) with virus-like particles (VLPs) and targeted chikungunya virus (CHIKV) as a model, the pathogenic reemerging virus with an unmet need for control. The identified aptamer against CHIKV-VLPs, Apt#1, and its truncated derivatives showed neutralizing activity with nanomolar IC50 values in a cell-based assay system using a pseudoviral particle of CHIKV (CHIKVpp). An antiviral-based chemical genetics approach revealed significant competition of Apt#1 with surami

SUBMITTER: Goto K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11915788 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature