Identification of aptamers for nanoparticle-based detection of Legionella pneumophila

嗜肺军团菌是退伍军人病的病原体，退伍军人病是人类的一种急性肺部感染。LD每年都会发生几次大规模爆发，每次都会影响数百人，并导致约10%的受影响人口死亡。例如，2012年魁北克市爆发的疫情导致183例病例和13例死亡。L.嗜肺菌在水系统中生长，并通过吸入气溶胶传播给人类。为防止军团病爆发，必须对供水系统进行适当管理，并在出现军团菌时采取适当行动。在他们身上发现了嗜肺菌。目前可用的检测方法耗时，需要专业技术技能。我们提出了一种新的检测方法的基础上的纳米粒子涂有L。称为适体的嗜肺菌特异性识别分子。这种纳米颗粒技术依赖于当靶存在时纳米颗粒涂覆的适体的差异聚集模式。为此，我们将首先进行cell-SELEX以鉴定特异性结合L.在纳米颗粒技术所需的条件下测定嗜肺军团菌，并确认候选适体与L.当附着在纳米颗粒上时。该项目对于开发一种新的便携式、易于使用和具有成本效益的方法来对水系统进行常规监测是必要的，这将有助于减少军团病的风险和负担。

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, an acute pulmonary infection in humans. Several large outbreaks of LD occur every year, each one affecting hundreds of people and resulting in the death of about 10% of the affected population. For example, the Quebec City outbreak in 2012 resulted in 183 cases and 13 deaths. L. pneumophila grows in water systems and is transmitted to human by inhalation of aerosols. To prevent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease it is imperative to manage water systems adequately and take appropriate action when L. pneumophila is detected in them. The current available detection methods are time consuming and require expert technical skills. We are proposing to develop a novel detection method based on nanoparticles coated with L. pneumophila-specific recognition molecules called aptamers. This nanoparticle technology relies on differential aggregation patterns of nanoparticle-coated aptamers when the target is present. To this end, we will first perform cell-SELEX to identify aptamers binding specifically to L. pneumophila under the conditions required for the nanoparticle technology and confirm the binding of the candidate aptamers to L. pneumophila when attached to nanoparticles. This project is necessary to develop a new portable, easy to use, and cost-effective method for routine monitoring of water systems that will help reduce the risk and burden of Legionnaires' disease.