Aptamer-Based Diagnosis for Plasmodium vivax Specific Malaria

• DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c01047
• Publication Date: 2025-03-05T16:49:13Z
• Authors: Mohd Shoeb Alam; Abhijeet Dhiman; Tanu Bhardwaj; Sudarshana Chatte...; Vaishali Lakra; Manish Tripathi; Khusboo Lohani; Yagya Dutt Sharma; Bijay Ranjan Mirdha; Amit Kumar; Tarun Kumar Sharma; Sumit Rathore
• Keywords: Vivax malaria; Aptamer; Plasmodium (life cycle)

Malaria, caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, is severe infectious disease with life-threatening consequences that has burdened mankind for centuries. Although Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria more prevalent globally than vivax vivax) malaria, India bears largest burden P. over 3.6 million cases accounting ∼48% global cases. Existing detection methods are costly or tedious have low accuracy. To address need specific diagnostic assay vivax, we generated aptamers to tryptophan-rich antigen (PvTRAg). We employed them in an aptamer-linked immobilized sorbent (ALISA) detect infections. The two most PvTRAg, identified as Apt_14 and Apt_16, were obtained using Systematic Evolution Ligands Exponential Enrichment. dissociation constant (KD) values Apt_16 1.9 1.2 nM, respectively, indicating high affinity PvTRAg. limit both was found be 2.5 nM. During clinical validation, sensitivity 96% 84% Apt_14- Apt_16-based ALISA 100% specificity. demonstrated nonsignificant cross-reactivity other nonmalarial antigens PvTRAg homologues along level selectivity various antigens. Altogether, our findings confirm effectiveness DNA accurate diagnosis lay groundwork developing aptamer-based malaria.