Aptamers targeting respiratory syncytial virus showed high inhibitory activity by blocking the G protein

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major global health threat, causing severe respiratory disease in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals—often surpassing the impact of influenza. Yet, effective RSV therapies remain limited. We describe anti-RSV ssDNA aptamers, selected via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), that bind the RSV glycoprotein (G) with nanomolar affinity. These aptamer-based therapeutics demonstrated potent antiviral activity against RSV. We further established that the binding domains of these aptamers are critical for their antiviral function. Our findings highlight highly active aptamers as a promising strategy to combat RSV infections. Aptamers targeting RSV G protein were identified, showing a high antiviral activity, which may serve as an effective strategy for preventing infections by RSV.