Development of an aptamer-based rapid diagnostic assay for <i>Salmonella</i> detection using whole-cell SELEX technique

This study addresses a critical need for rapid, low-cost, and sensitive diagnostic tools for Salmonella detection, particularly in low-resource settings where conventional methods are often inaccessible or time-consuming. By developing an aptamer-based colorimetric assay using silver nanoparticles, the research offers a highly specific, sensitive, and affordable alternative to existing diagnostics. The use of DNA aptamers selected through Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment enables precise recognition of Salmonella surface markers, while the colorimetric readout allows for easy visual detection without the need for sophisticated instruments. The assay's sensitivity demonstrates its practical utility for early and field-level pathogen detection. Importantly, the incorporation of next-generation sequencing in aptamer characterization enhances the molecular understanding of aptamer-target interactions and supports future assay refinement for application in lateral flow assay. The findings support translating the platform into point-of-care formats, which help food safety monitoring and infectious disease control in developing regions.