Screening aptamers for serine β-lactamase-expressing bacteria with Precision-SELEX

Abstract Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase 2 (KPC-2) is a serine β-lactamase that can hydrolyze almost all β-lactam antibiotics. The drug resistant problem of bacteria expressing carbapenemases is currently a global problem, therefore, rapid and specific detection of pathogenic bacteria is urgent. In order to obtain an aptamer that can specifically recognize bacteria expressing KPC-2, we have established a method called Precision-SELEX. Precision-SELEX combined protein SELEX and bacterium SELEX. In this method, KPC-2 was used as a target protein, and Escherichia coli expressing KPC-2 (KPC-2 E. coli) was used as a target bacterium. After precision-SELEX, the same aptamer named XK-10 that can recognize KPC-2 and KPC-2 E. coli was obtained while the screening process could be shortened to 4 rounds. Dissociation equilibrium constants were calculated as 0.81 nM by SPR. In addition, XK-10 could specifically bind to KPC-2 E. coli, which was confirmed through flow cytometry and molecular Docking Simulations. The high-content imaging method could detect KPC-2 E. coli. In all, the Precision-SELEX provides an accurate and efficient method to screening aptamers for bacteria.