Aptamer and DNAzyme for Pathogen Detection: Diagnostic Strategies and Clinical Applications

Abstract

Pathogens that cause infectious diseases continue to pose threats to human health. The development of efficient and accurate diagnostic methods is essential for the prevention and control of pathogen infections. Functional nucleic acids (FNAs), mainly aptamers and DNAzymes, offer unique advantages for diagnostic applications. FNA-based biosensors have been widely applied in pathogen detections. This review introduces recent advances in aptamer- and DNAzyme-based biosensors for pathogen detection, with a focus on diagnostic strategies targeting diverse pathogenic targets, including genomic nucleic acids, antigens, and intact bacterial cells or viral particles. We first introduce the major classes of infectious pathogens and their health risks, followed by an analysis of their potential diagnostic targets. We then discuss aptamer- and DNAzyme-based detection strategies, including DNAzymes for detecting genomic nucleic-acid, the selection of bacterium-responsive DNAzymes, and the selection and engineering of aptamers for recognizing pathogen biomarkers and intact bacterial cells or viruses. Finally, we review recent progress toward the clinical translation of aptamer- and DNAzyme-based biosensors and outline current challenges and future directions in this field.