Structural basis for discriminatory recognition of Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase by a DNA aptamer

Significance Aptamers are oligonucleotides selected and evolved to bind tightly and specifically to molecular targets. Aptamers have promise as diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents, but little is known about how they recognize or discriminate their targets. In this study, X-ray crystallography together with several other biophysical techniques reveal how a new DNA aptamer recognizes and discriminatesPlasmodium lactate dehydrogenase, a protein marker that is a diagnostic indicator of infection with the malaria parasite. We also demonstrate application of the aptamer in target detection. This study broadens our understanding of aptamer-mediated molecular recognition and provides a DNA aptamer that could underpin new innovative approaches for point-of-care malaria diagnosis.