Aptamers for
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of nucleic acids and, more particularly, to aptamers capable of binding to toxins produced by Clostridium difficile ; diagnostic kits and methods comprising such aptamers; and methods of making and using such aptamers.
1. A method of detecting the presence of C. difficle toxin in a test sample comprising contacting said test sample with an aptamer that binds to C. difficile toxin B wherein said aptamer comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 67-71.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aptamer further comprises at least one addition chemical modification, wherein said at least one addition chemical modification is a chemical substitution at one or more position independently selected from the group consisting of a ribose position, a deoxyribose position, a phosphate position, and a base position.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least one additional chemical modification is independently selected from the group consisting of a 2′-amino (2′-NH 2 ), a 2′-fluoro (2′-F), a 2′-O-methyl (2′-Ome), a modification at a cytosine exocyclic amine, a substitution of 5-bromouracil, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxyuridine, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxycytidine, a backbone modification, methylation, a 3′ cap, and a 5′ cap.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aptamer comprises a K d for C. difficile toxin B of 30 nM or less.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aptamer is nuclease resistant.
6. The method claim 1 , wherein said aptamer has a slow off rate.