Aptamers Against Clostridium Difficile
Compositions comprising aptamers capable of specifically binding to a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore are provided. A method for detecting, enriching, separating, and/or isolating Clostridium difficile spores is provided.
1 . An aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is CdeC, CdeM, CotA or CotE Chitinase.
2 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CdeC having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO 18.
3 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CdeM having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19.
4 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CotA having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15.
5 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CotE Chitinase protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17.
6 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25.
7 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 30 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25.
8 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer is a single stranded DNA aptamer.
9 . The aptamer of claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a detectable label.
10 . The aptamer of claim 9 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof.
11 . An apparatus for detecting the presence, absence or level of Clostridium difficile spores in a sample, the apparatus comprising:
a support; and
at least one aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is CdeC, CdeM, CotA or CotE Chitinase.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of the nucleic acid sequences as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 30 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a detectable label.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof.
16 . A composition comprising at least one aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is a C. difficile CotA protein, a C. difficile CdeC protein, a C. difficile CdeM protein, a C. difficile CotEC chitinase protein, or a combination thereof.
17 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein at least one aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of the nucleic acid sequences as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25.
18 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a detectable label.
19 . The composition of claim 18 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof.