Aptamers Against Clostridium Difficile

Abstract

Compositions comprising aptamers capable of specifically binding to a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore are provided. A method for detecting, enriching, separating, and/or isolating Clostridium difficile spores is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of  Clostridium difficile  spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is CdeC, CdeM, CotA or CotE Chitinase. 
     
     
         2 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CdeC having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO 18. 
     
     
         3 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CdeM having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 19. 
     
     
         4 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CotA having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15. 
     
     
         5 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface protein is CotE Chitinase protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17. 
     
     
         6 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25. 
     
     
         7 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 30 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25. 
     
     
         8 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the aptamer is a single stranded DNA aptamer. 
     
     
         9 . The aptamer of  claim 1 , wherein the aptamer comprises a detectable label. 
     
     
         10 . The aptamer of  claim 9 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for detecting the presence, absence or level of  Clostridium difficile  spores in a sample, the apparatus comprising:
 a support; and   at least one aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of  Clostridium difficile  spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is CdeC, CdeM, CotA or CotE Chitinase.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 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: 1-10, 14 or 23-25. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 30 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence having at least 90% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, 14 or 23-25. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a detectable label. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising at least one aptamer having a specific binding affinity for a surface protein of  Clostridium difficile  spore, wherein the surface protein is a spore coat surface protein or an exosporium layer protein, wherein the surface protein is a  C. difficile  CotA protein, a  C. difficile  CdeC protein, a  C. difficile  CdeM protein, a  C. difficile  CotEC chitinase protein, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein 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: 1-10, 14 or 23-25. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a detectable label. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the detectable label comprises a fluorophore, a nanoparticle, a quantum dot, an enzyme, a radioactive isotope, a pre-defined sequence portion, a biotin, a desthiobiotin, a thiol group, an amine group, an azide, an aminoallyl group, a digoxigenin, an antibody, a catalyst, a colloidal metallic particle, a colloidal non-metallic particle, an organic polymer, a latex particle, a nanofiber, a nanotube, a dendrimer, a protein, a liposome, or combination thereof.