RT Journal Article
T1 Biotin/avidin-free sandwich aptamer-based lateral flow assay (ALFA) for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis
A1 Ibáñez Escribano, Alexandra
A1 Justo, Christine Aubrey C.
A1 Skouridou, Vasso
A1 Cools, Piet
A1 Mulinganya, Guy
A1 O´Sullivan, Ciara K.
AB The development of low-cost, rapid point-of-care tests (POCT) for the detection of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis is listed in the recent WHO global research priorities for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Aiming to contribute to this call and aid in ending STIs as a public health threat, we report the development of a DNA aptamer-based POCT for T. vaginalis. Herein, we report an aptamer-basedlateral flow assay (ALFA) based on dual aptamers for the detection of T. vaginalis. This is the first report of an ALFA that does not rely on biotin/streptavidin for either capture or reporter molecule. Aptamer captureand recognition relies on the use of an UV-crosslinked aminated capture aptamer on the nitrocellulose membrane and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with a thioctic acid-modified reporter aptamer.The developed ALFA has an estimated laboratory production cost of less than 1 € per test, with the running buffer and the ALFA strip stable for at least 1 year at room temperature (22 °C). The assay requires threesimple operator steps from sample procurement to result with a 15-minute runtime. The developed ALFA can detect down to 1.6 × 105 T. vaginalis per mL and shows no cross-reactivity to common vaginalmicroorganisms and no matrix effect from clinical cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples is observed. Preliminary clinical evaluation using CVLs demonstrated that the assay has perfect concordance with wetmountassay on matching vaginal swabs. The developed rapid test offers a simple, stable, and low-cost diagnostic test for T. vaginalis.
PB Royal Society of  Chemistry
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120130
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120130
LA eng
NO Justo CAC, Skouridou V, Cools P, Mulinganya G, Ibáñez-Escribano A, O’Sullivan CK. Biotin/avidin-free sandwich aptamer-based lateral flow assay (ALFA) for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis. Sens Diagn 2025;4:216–28. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SD00342J.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 14 dic 2025