**Application of Nucleic Acid Aptamers to Viral Detection and Inhibition**

Ana Gabriela Leija-Montoya, María Luisa Benítez-Hess and Luis Marat Alvarez-Salas

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/61773

#### **Abstract**

Nucleic acid aptamers are small oligonucleotides that specifically bind to other molecules through noncovalent interactions that rely on complex tridimensional structural arrange‐ ments. Aptamers are generated through the iterative *in vitro* selection method called SE‐ LEX, resulting in specific binding against a wide variety of molecular targets including viruses. Because aptamers are obtained *in vitro* and can be synthetically produced, they have been envisioned as future diagnostic and therapeutic tools for human diseases in‐ cluding virus-borne pathologies. Aptamers have been isolated against a number of virus‐ es including pandemic influenza virus, human papillomavirus and hepatitis C virus. Although aptamers have proven themselves as extremely sensitive detection tools trig‐ gering the development of affordable and highly diagnostic methods, their use as thera‐ peutic moieties has been hampered by biostability, delivery and pharmacodynamical issues. Nevertheless, a new generation of chemically modified aptamers shows promise for the coming of age of protein-targeted noncatalytic oligonucleotides for the therapy of viral disease. The present review focuses on the most successful antiviral aptamers re‐ ported and includes a description of some of the novel methods developed for their use as diagnostic and therapeutic tools

**Keywords:** Aptamer, Oligonucleotides, Nucleic acids, RNA, DNA
