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Neutralizing Aptamers Block S/RBD-ACE2 Interactions and Prevent Host Cell Infection.

Xiaohui LiuYi-Ling WangJacky WuJianjun QiZihua ZengQuanyuan WanZhenghu ChenPragya ManandharVictoria S CavenerNina R BoyleXinping FuEric SalazarSuresh V KuchipudiVivek KapurXiaoliu ZhangMichihisa UmetaniMehmet SenRichard C WillsonShu-Hsia ChenYouli Zu
Published in: Angewandte Chemie (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) (2021)
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 (IC50≈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.
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