Today, the treatment of bacterial infections is a major challenge, due to growing rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria, complication of treatment and increased healthcare costs. Moreover, new treatments for bacterial infections are limited. Oligonucleotide aptamers are single stranded DNAs or RNAs with target-selective high-affinity feature, which considered as nucleic acid-based affinity ligands, replacing monoclonal antibodies. The aptamer-based systems have been found to be talented tools in the treatment of microbial infections, regarding their promising anti-biofilm and antimicrobial activities; they can reduce or inhibit the effects of bacterial toxins, and inhibit pathogen invasion to immune cell, as well as they can be used in drug delivery systems. The focus of this review is on the therapeutic applications of aptamers in infections. In this regard, an introduction of infections and related challenges were presented, first. Then, aptamer definition and selection, with a brief history of aptamers development against various pathogens and toxins were reviewed. Diverse strategies of aptamer application in drug delivery, as well as, the effect of aptamers on the immune system, as the main natural agents of human defense against pathogens, were also discussed. Finally, the future trends in clinical applications of this technology were discussed.

中文翻译：

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核酸适体在微生物感染中的治疗应用

如今，由于耐多药细菌的增长，治疗的复杂性和医疗费用的增加，细菌感染的治疗已成为一项主要挑战。此外，细菌感染的新疗法是有限的。寡核苷酸适体是具有靶标选择性高亲和力特征的单链DNA或RNA，被视为基于核酸的亲和配体，取代了单克隆抗体。基于适体的系统因其有希望的抗生物膜和抗微生物活性而被认为是治疗微生物感染的有才华的工具。它们可以减少或抑制细菌毒素的作用，并抑制病原体入侵免疫细胞，也可以用于药物递送系统。这篇综述的重点是适体在感染中的治疗应用。在这方面，首先介绍了感染和相关挑战。然后，回顾了适体的定义和选择，以及针对各种病原体和毒素的适体发展的简要历史。还讨论了适体在药物递送中应用的不同策略，以及适体对免疫系统的作用，免疫系统是人类防御病原体的主要天然药物。最后，讨论了该技术在临床应用中的未来趋势。作为人类防御病原体的主要天然药物，也进行了讨论。最后，讨论了该技术在临床应用中的未来趋势。作为人类防御病原体的主要天然药物，也进行了讨论。最后，讨论了该技术在临床应用中的未来趋势。