Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is the leading nonviral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. We report the selection of a DNA aptamer against a T. vaginalis adhesion protein, AP65, using a microtiter plate-based in vitro combinatorial chemistry process termed systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. The enriched library pool was sequenced by next-generation sequencing, and several aptamer candidates with high affinity and specificity were identified. The aptamer with the highest affinity and specificity had a K_D in the low nanomolar range, as confirmed by three different techniques: surface plasmon resonance, enzyme-linked aptamer assay, and biolayer interferometry. The selected aptamer was demonstrated to have a high specificity to the AP65 protein and to T. vaginalis cells with no cross-reactivity to other enteric and urogenital microorganisms. Current work is focused on the development of inexpensive and easy-to-use aptamer-based diagnostic assays for the reliable and rapid detection of T. vaginalis in vaginal swabs.

中文翻译：

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针对阴道毛滴虫粘附蛋白的适体选择，用于诊断应用

由阴道毛滴虫引起的毛滴虫病是世界范围内主要的非病毒性传播疾病。我们报道了使用基于微量滴定板的体外组合化学过程（称为通过指数富集的配体的系统进化），针对T.阴道粘连蛋白AP65的DNA适体的选择。通过下一代测序对富集的文库池进行测序，并鉴定了几种具有高亲和力和特异性的适体候选物。具有最高亲和力和特异性的适体的K _D可以通过三种不同的技术确认：在低纳摩尔范围内：表面等离振子共振，酶联适体测定和生物层干涉法。已证明所选适体对AP65蛋白和阴道锥虫细胞具有高度特异性，而与其他肠和泌尿生殖道微生物无交叉反应。目前的工作重点是价格低廉，易于使用的基于适体的诊断分析的发展的可靠和快速检测阴道毛滴虫在阴道拭子。