MEDUSA: a new method to target pathogens

© 2025 EPFL

© 2025 EPFL

The Protein Production and Structure Core Facility (PTPSP) at EPFL contributed key expertise to a study recently published in Nature Nanotechnology, led by the Programmable Biomaterials Lab (PBL). The developed approach, named MEDUSA (Multivalent Evolved DNA-based SUpramolecular Assemblies), is a novel method for generating multimeric aptamers that bind viral protein targets with exceptional precision and strength.

Inspired by the architecture of viral proteins, the team designed aptamer libraries pre-organised to match the geometry of their targets. Unlike conventional monovalent aptamers, which bind to a single site, the multivalent approach enables aptamers to target complex protein assemblies, such as the trimeric spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2, with far greater efficacy.

The PTPSP’s involvement was instrumental in advancing the structural and functional characterisation of the newly developed aptamers. Dr Yoan Duhoo, specialist in cryo-electron microscopy, provided critical insight into the structural interactions between the aptamers and their targets. Dr Kelvin Lau, an expert in biophysical methods, helped conducting essential measurements to assess binding affinities and selectivity.

These developments lay the foundation for the rapid development of aptamers targeting other pathogens with complex surface structures, including HIV, Dengue virus, and anthrax.

References

Kononenko, A., Caroprese, V., Duhoo, Y. et al. Evolution of multivalent supramolecular assemblies of aptamers with target-defined spatial organisation. Nature Nanotechnology (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01939-8