RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Identification of two aptamers binding to Legionella pneumophila with high affinity and specificity JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2019.12.13.875476 DO 10.1101/2019.12.13.875476 A1 Mariam Saad A1 Deanna Chinerman A1 Maryam Tabrizian A1 Sebastien P. Faucher YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/12/13/2019.12.13.875476.abstract AB Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is a water borne bacterium causing Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) in humans. Rapid detection of Lp in water system is essential to reduce the risk of LD outbreaks. The methods currently available require expert skills and are time intensive, thus delaying intervention. In situ detection of Lp by biosensor would allow rapid implementation of control strategies. To this end, a biorecognition element is required. Aptamers are considered promising biorecognition molecules for biosensing. Aptamers are short oligonucleotide sequence folding into a specific structure and are able to bind to specific molecules. Currently no aptamer and thus no aptamer-based technology exists for the detection of Lp. In this study, Systemic Evolution of Ligands through EXponential enrichment (SELEX) was used to identify aptamers binding specifically to Lp. Ten rounds of positive selection and two rounds of counter-selection against two Pseudomonas species were performed. Two aptamers binding strongly to Lp were identified with KD of 116 and 135 nM. Binding specificity of these two aptamers to Lp was confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Therefore, these two aptamers are promising biorecognition molecules for the detection of Lp in water systems.