TOKYO, May 6, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and NEC Solution Innovators today announced the successful development of artificial DNA aptamers (1) that bind to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This breakthrough stems from the NEC Group's efforts to promote spatial monitoring business using aptamers, including the development of new biosensing systems, such as measuring equipment that can monitor spaces where various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, are present.Figure 1. RBD, the spike protein on the surface of the virusFigure 2. MSS aptamer biosensor mechanism (under development)Overview of AptamersSARS-CoV-2 enters into human cells when the spike protein, Receptor-Binding Domain ((2), RBD), on the surface of the virus binds to the ACE2 receptors (3) on the surface of human cells.The aptamer developed by NEC Solution Innovators targets RBD, which is the key to infection, then traps the virus by recognizing the three-dimensional structure of the RBD and binding very strongly to it ((4), a dissociation constant indicating the strength of the binding between molecules is less than 1nM). This aptamer uses a new modified base...