Authors
Tao Jiang, Zhiqiang Chen, Wei Li, Xiaohua Ni, Wen Pan, Qihan Wu
Published in
Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica. Jun 25, 2026. Epub Jun 25, 2026.
Abstract
The relentless evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the emergence of immune-evasive variants underscore an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies that are resilient to viral mutations. Targeting conserved host factors essential for viral entry represents a promising approach to overcome this challenge. Here, we report the development of a bifunctional therapeutic platform targeting the primary human receptor for SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), we isolate a high-affinity DNA aptamer, designated AA2, that binds to human ACE2 with a dissociation constant ( Kd) of 5.41 ± 1.23 nM. Molecular docking and competitive binding assays confirm that AA2 sterically hinders the interaction between the viral spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) and ACE2. Consequently, AA2 demonstrates potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 S pseudovirus entry into host cells. To achieve a synergistic antiviral effect, we engineer an aptamer-siRNA chimera (AsiC) by conjugating AA2 to a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the GFP coding region of the pseudovirus genome. This AsiC construct significantly represses viral replication compared to aptamer or siRNA treatment alone, validating a dual mechanism of action that combines receptor blockade with targeted gene silencing. This study establishes a robust proof-of-concept for an ACE2-targeted AsiC, representing a new class of dual-function antiviral therapeutics with the potential to effectively combat current and future ACE2-dependent coronaviruses.
PMID:
42363689
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Jun 2026.
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