Provided are RNA oligonucleotides having an aptamer flanked by two self-cleaving ribozymes. Vectors encoding the oligonucleotides, and cells transfected with these vectors are also provided. Additionally, methods of inhibiting replication of a virus in a cell, methods of treating an organism with an aptamer, methods of determining whether a test aptamer is effective in inhibiting the function of a target of the aptamer in a cell, and methods of expressing an RNA aptamer in a cell are provided.