title: In vitro antibacterial effects of antilipopolysaccharide DNA aptamer-C1qrs complexes.
abstract: DNA aptamers were developed against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli O111:B4 and shown to bind both LPS and E. coli by a colorimetric enzyme-based microplate assay. The polyclonal aptamers were coupled to human C1qrs protein either directly using a bifunctional linker or indirectly using biotinylated aptamers and a streptavidin-C1qrs complex. Both systems significantly reduced colony counts when applied to E. coli O111:B4 and K12 strains across a series of 10x dilutions of the bacteria in the presence of human serum; it was diluted 1: 10(3) in order to avoid significant bacterial lysis by the competing alternate pathway of complement activation. A number of candidate DNA aptamer sequences were cloned and sequenced from the anti-LPS aptamer library for future screening of antibacterial or "antibiotic" potential and to aid in eventual development of an alternative therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Operational Technologies Corporation, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. john.bruno@otcorp.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phillips