{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-26T22:46:29.190Z", "family": "Marnissi", "given": "Boutheina", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0002-2782-6502", "affiliations": ["Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Institut Pasteur of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/83aea1da31cf4eaa90ace4e13fbbf167.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/83aea1da31cf4eaa90ace4e13fbbf167"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "9a2e8397da6449db90db33c3ba85c439", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9a2e8397da6449db90db33c3ba85c439.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9a2e8397da6449db90db33c3ba85c439"}}, "title": "Accurate detection of Newcastle disease virus using proximity-dependent DNA aptamer ligation assays.", "authors": [{"family": "Marnissi", "given": "Boutheina", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0002-2782-6502", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/83aea1da31cf4eaa90ace4e13fbbf167.json"}}, {"family": "Khalfaoui", "given": "Khouloud", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Ebai", "given": "Tonge", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Marques Souza de Oliveira", "given": "Felipe", "initials": "F"}, {"family": "Ghram", "given": "Abdeljelil", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Kamali-Moghaddam", "given": "Masood", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Hmila", "given": "Issam", "initials": "I"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2021-04-00", "journal": {"title": "FEBS Open Bio", "issn": "2211-5463", "volume": "11", "issue": "4", "pages": "1122-1131", "issn-l": "2211-5463"}, "abstract": "Detecting viral antigens at low concentrations in field samples can be crucial for early veterinary diagnostics. Proximity ligation assays (PLAs) in both solution and solid-phase formats are widely used for high-performance protein detection in medical research. However, the affinity reagents used, which are mainly poly- and monoclonal antibodies, play an important role in the performance of PLAs. Here, we have established the first homogeneous and solid-phase proximity-dependent DNA aptamer ligation assays for rapid and accurate detection of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). NDV is detected by a pair of extended DNA aptamers that, upon binding in proximity to proteins on the envelope of the virus, are joined by enzymatic ligation to form a unique amplicon that can be sensitively detected using real-time PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the assays were validated using 40 farm samples. The results demonstrated that the developed homogeneous and solid-phase PLAs, which use NDV-selective DNA aptamers, are more sensitive than the sandwich enzymatic-linked aptamer assay (ELAA), and have a comparable sensitivity to real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) as the gold standard detection method. In addition, the solid-phase PLA was shown to have a greater dynamic range with improved lower limit of detection, upper- and lower limit of quantification, and minimal detectable dose as compared with those of ELAA and rRT-PCR. The specificity of PLA is shown to be concordant with rRT-PCR.", "doi": "10.1002/2211-5463.13117", "pmid": "33595202", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC8016122"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T06:27:12.996Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T06:27:13.074Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "04fd55f210b5496cba788d2c366b35c4", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/04fd55f210b5496cba788d2c366b35c4.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/04fd55f210b5496cba788d2c366b35c4"}}, "title": "Generation of ssDNA aptamers as diagnostic tool for Newcastle avian virus.", "authors": [{"family": "Marnissi", "given": "Boutheina", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0002-2782-6502", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/83aea1da31cf4eaa90ace4e13fbbf167.json"}}, {"family": "Kamali-Moghaddam", "given": "Masood", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Ghram", "given": "Abdeljelil", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Hmila", "given": "Issam", "initials": "I"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-08-13", "journal": {"title": "PLoS ONE", "issn": "1932-6203", "volume": "15", "issue": "8", "pages": "e0237253", "issn-l": "1932-6203"}, "abstract": "Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), RNA or synthetic XNA molecules, which are used as a class of affinity binders recognizing target molecules with a very high affinity and specificity. The aim of this study was to generate and characterize ssDNA aptamers for the detection of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). These aptamers were selected using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) in combination with quantitative high-throughput DNA sequencing. After three rounds of selections, a highly enriched ssDNA pool was sequenced, and the results were analyzed using FASTAptamer Toolkit. Sequencing reads were sorted by copy numbers and clustered into groups, according to their sequence homology. Top aptameric sequences were used to develop a sandwich enzymatic linked aptamer assay (ELAA) for rapid and sensitive detection of NDV in farm samples. The selected aptamers have an affinity within the nanomolar range, and a high specificity with no cross-reactivity towards other avian viruses. Following optimization of the sandwich ELAA method, the results demonstrated that both selected aptamers Apt_NDV01 and Apt_NDV03 with dissociation constant values of 31 nM and 78.1 nM, respectively, showed the highest specificity and affinity for NDV detection. The ELAA results were verified by quantitative real-time PCR, demonstrating strong concordance, and showing outstanding accuracy for detection of NDV in field sample. In summary, combination of SELEX with high-throughput DNA sequencing allowed rapid screening and selection of aptamers. The selected aptamers allowed recognition of NDV with high affinities. This is the first report that uses a validated sandwich ELAA for rapid and specific detection of NDV in poultry samples.", "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0237253", "pmid": "32790805", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7425888"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "PONE-D-20-07029"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T12:44:06.525Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T12:44:06.597Z"}]}