Selection of an antiviral RNA aptamer against hemagglutinin of the subtype H5 avian influenza virus.
Avian influenza is an acute viral respiratory disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae. The influenza A virus subtype H5 can cause severe illness and results in almost 100% mortality rate among livestock. Hemagglutinin (HA) present in the virus envelope plays an essential role in the initiation of viral infection. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of using HA as a target for antiviral therapy through nucleic acid aptamers. After purification of the receptor binding domain (HA1) of HA protein, activity of recombinant HA1 was confirmed by using hemagglutination assay. We selected RNA aptamer candidates after 15 rounds of iterative Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) targeting the biologically active HA protein. The selected RNA aptamer HAS15-5, which specifically binds to HA1, exhibited significant antiviral efficacy according to the results of a hemagglutination inhibition assay using egg allantoic fluids harboring the virus. Thus, the RNA aptamer HAS15-5, which acts by blocking and inhibiting the receptor-binding domain of viral HA, can be developed as a novel antiviral agent against type H5 avian influenza virus.
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sun Young
SY
Park
Seho
S
Kim
Hana
H
Yoon
Kyung-Bo
KB
Kim
Sheetal S
SS
Kalme
Sangtaek
S
Oh
Chang Seon
CS
Song
Dong-Eun
DE
Kim
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000379:methods; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins