Aptamers against Clostridium difficile, compositions comprising aptamers against Clostridium difficile and methods of using the same

A method of visualizing Clostridium difficile spores on a surface, comprising:

• contacting a surface with a liquid composition comprising (a) at least one aptamer conjugated to a fluorophore, wherein the at least one aptamer has a stem-loop structure having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore, wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of the nucleic acid sequences as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs:
• 43-55 wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein;
• and (b) graphene oxide, wherein fluorophore is quenched by the association with the graphene oxide;
• and
• visualizing the presence or absence of Clostridium difficile spores on the surface, wherein fluorescence is visible when the at least one aptamer is bound to the surface protein of Clostridium difficile spores.