Alpha toxin is one of the major virulence factors secreted by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that is responsible for a wide variety of infections in both community and hospital settings. Due to the prevalence of S. aureus related infections and the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, rapid and accurate diagnosis of S. aureus infections is crucial in benefiting patient health outcomes. In this study, a rigorous Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) variant previously developed by our laboratory was utilized to select a single-stranded DNA molecular recognition element (MRE) targeting alpha toxin with high affinity and specificity. At the end of the 12-round selection, the selected MRE had an equilibrium dissociation constant (K_d) of 93.7 ± 7.0 nM. Additionally, a modified sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by using the selected ssDNA MRE as the toxin-capturing element and a sensitive detection of 200 nM alpha toxin in undiluted human serum samples was achieved.

Direct oral anticoagulants such as direct factor Xa inhibitors are now commonly prescribed to manage patients with blood clotting disorders. The main advantage of this class of medication is free of routine monitoring in non-complicated patients. However, the complex pharmacokinetic profiles of special populations can complicate the dosing regimen of the oral anticoagulants.

Plants rely heavily on the dispersion of nutrients from the soil throughout its life. To ensure that the plants can get what they need, farmers will often use compost to help fertilize the soil. Being that compost is mainly comprised of material in the surrounding areas, farmers will often include ingredients that have been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Specifically,

Direct oral anticoagulants such as direct factor Xa inhibitors are now commonly prescribed to manage patients with blood clotting disorders. The main advantage of this class of medication is free of routine monitoring in non-complicated patients. However, the complex pharmacokinetic profiles of special populations can complicate the dosing regimen of the oral anticoagulants.

Plants rely heavily on the dispersion of nutrients from the soil throughout its life. To ensure that the plants can get what they need, farmers will often use compost to help fertilize the soil. Being that compost is mainly comprised of material in the surrounding areas, farmers will often include ingredients that have been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Specifically,