Nucleic acid aptamers against plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase and histidine-rich protein II and uses thereof for malaria diagnosis
AssigneeThe University of Hong Kong
InventorsJulian A Tanner, Yee Wai Cheung, Masayo Kotaka
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Abstract
The present invention provides nucleic acid aptamers that bind to Plasmodium proteins lactate dehydrogenase and histidine-rich protein II, and uses thereof for the diagnosis of malaria. Aptamers against histidine-rich protein II may be used to detect the presence of Plasmodium species in general, whereas aptamers against lactate dehydrogenase can be used to specifically detect Plasmodium falciparum.
Claims12
An aptamer for binding to Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase, the aptamer comprising a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 2.
A method for diagnosing Plasmodium infection in a subject, comprising:
- obtaining a biological sample from a subject;
- contacting the biological sample with a nucleic acid aptamer comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 2;
- determining the formation of the binding complex between the nucleic acid aptamer and Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
- wherein the presence of the binding complex indicates that the subject has Plasmodium infection.
A method for detecting the presence of Plasmodium in a sample, comprising:
- contacting a sample with a nucleic acid aptamer comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 2;
- determining the formation of the binding complex between the nucleic acid aptamer and Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), wherein the formation of the binding complex indicates the presence of Plasmodium in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.