Abstract
The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike (S) protein plays a central role in mediating the first step of virus infection to cause disease: virus binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on human host cells. Therefore, S/RBD is an ideal target for blocking and neutralization therapies to prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Using a target-based selection approach, we developed oligonucleotide aptamers containing a conserved sequence motif that specifically targets S/RBD. Synthetic aptamers had high binding affinity for S/RBD-coated virus mimics (K D ≈7 nM) and also blocked interaction of S/RBD with ACE2 receptors (IC 50 ≈5 nM). Importantly, aptamers were able to neutralize S protein-expressing viral particles and prevent host cell infection, suggesting a promising COVID-19 therapy strategy.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aptamers; receptor-binding domain (RBD); virus neutralization.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Aptamers, Virus neutralization, Receptor-binding domain (RBD), 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Coronavirus disease 2019, ACE2, coronavirus, therapy, S protein, neutralization, Infection, ACE2 receptor, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, binding affinity, Protein, Receptor-binding domain, RBD, Virus neutralization, ACE2 receptors, target, receptor, virus infection, synthetic, binding, Angiotensin-converting enzyme, Interaction, angiotensin, host cell, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, domain, sequence, treat, motif, viral particle, human host cells, blocking, approach, Prevent, neutralize, blocked, conserved, 【제목키워드】 aptamer, block,