<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Auti, Amogh</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yadav, Pranay</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bodkhe, Rahul</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bhandari, Yogesh</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Varma, Sanjana</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chaudhari, Bhushan</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rahi, Shraddha</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ghormade, Vandana</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vamkudoth, Koteswara Rao</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Development of novel ssDNA aptamers for detection of receptor-binding domain of SARS-COV-2</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ACS Omega</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">JUN </style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23981-23992</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;
	The highly virulent and transmissible SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 and poses a global public health threat. Herein cloned, expressed, and the molecular weight of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 gene encoding protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. The pivotal aim is to develop single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers for the rapid detection of SARS-COV-2 infections in humans. In this investigation, a library of nine novel ssDNA aptamers was developed by several rounds of systematic evolution of ligands by an exponential enrichment approach and assessed by an enzyme-linked aptamer assay for binding affinity against RBD antigen (Ag). An in vitro assay resulted in a varied colorimetric signal that depends on the nature of aptamer. Quantitative determination of AptRBD3, AptRBD6, and AptRBD8 aptamers exhibited excellent binding affinity against Ag in the range of 5-10 ng/mL. The putative AptRBD3, AptRBD6, and AptRBD8 aptamers were converted into peptide sequences and docked against RBD, exhibiting good binding energy of -6.8, -6.3, and -7.1 kcal/mol respectively, which were recorded. Furthermore, docking studies of ssDNA aptamers were performed using HDOCK web server to ascertain the binding mechanism and docking score perceived as -389.74, -404.28, and -390.37. Despite this, we engineered a high-affinity AptRBD3.3 aptamer that formed a single and bulged loop, which improved binding affinity, resulted in a docking score of -361.56, and exhibited sensitivity at 4 ng of Ag of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, computational modeling of AptRBD3.3 revealed an intriguing significant binding affinity with the RBD mutant SARS-CoV-2 S-UK variant (PDB ID: 7EDG) with a docking score of -350.21. In conclusion, the AptRBD3.3 aptamer can be used for the development of lateral flow device and electrochemical sensors for rapid, low-cost, and accurate detection of COVID-19 infection in humans for point of care diagnostics.&lt;/p&gt;
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Article</style></work-type><custom3><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;Foreign&lt;/p&gt;
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