Viral metagenomics in human plasma of blood donors in two blood centers in Brazil

• Grant number: 14/05211-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ester Cerdeira Sabino
• Grantee: Antonio Charlys da Costa
• Supervisor: Eric Delwart
• Host Institution: Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMT). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Blood Systems Research Institute (BSRI), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/03417-7 - Complete genomes for dengue virus: viral genetic diversity among seropositive first-time blood donors and recipients in two blood centres in Brazil, BP.DD

Abstract

The research of pathogens in blood donors can contribute significantly to improve the quality of blood products and the safety concern. Currently, blood banks (in Brazil or around the globe?), perform serological screening only for seven agents (Hepatitis, HTLV, HIV, Syphilis and Chagas). However, many other agents known or yet unidentified might be are present in samples from donors. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible presence of known or unknown pathogens present in samples from Brazilian blood donors. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is currently a methodology widely applied to search for new agents allowing the generation of millions of sequences from a single sample with potential for disease diagnostics. In the literature, numerous Metagenomic techniques for detecting pathogens are described, however these techniques present variations depending on the type of materials and microorganisms to be studied. The group of Dr. Eric Delwart is one of the pioneers in Metagenomic. The group performs analysis on animal samples and have in the literature numerous articles describing new viruses and related reviews. Similar to sequencing, molecular phylogeny is another area that has also undergone great revolutions in recent years. Epidemiological analyzes today are very common in phylogenetic analysis. The estimates of infection rates, path of the epidemic, local evolutionary traits, intra diversity host and innumerous of other applications are used by molecular phylogeny. The training in these techniques will be of great importance in the current study of the student as well as of great importance for our research group after their return. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PHAN, TUNG GIA; DA COSTA, ANTONIO CHARLYS; DEL VALLE MENDOZA, JUANA; BUCARDO-RIVERA, FILEMON; NORDGREN, JOHAN; O'RYAN, MIGUEL; DENG, XUTAO; DELWART, ERIC. The fecal virome of South and Central American children with diarrhea includes small circular DNA viral genomes of unknown origin. ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY, v. 161, n. 4, p. 959-966, APR 2016. (14/05211-2, 12/03417-7)

PHAN, TUNG G.; DRENO, BRIGITTE; DA COSTA, ANTONIO CHARLYS; LI, LINLIN; ORLANDI, PATRICIA; DENG, XUTAO; KAPUSINSZKY, BEATRIX; SIQUEIRA, JULIANA; KNOL, ANNE-CHANTAL; HALARY, FRANCK; et al. A new protoparvovirus in human fecal samples and cutaneous T cell lymphomas (mycosis fungoides). VIROLOGY, v. 496, p. 299-305, SEP 2016. (14/05211-2, 12/03417-7)

PHAN, TUNG GIA; DA COSTA, ANTONIO CHARLYS; ZHANG, WEN; POTHIER, PIERRE; AMBERT-BALAY, KATIA; DENG, XUTAO; DELWART, ERIC. A new gyrovirus in human feces. VIRUS GENES, v. 51, n. 1, p. 132-135, AUG 2015. (14/05211-2, 12/03417-7)

NG, TERRY FEI FAN; ZHANG, WEN; SACHSENROEDER, JANA; KONDOV, NIKOLA O.; DA COSTA, ANTONIO CHARLYS; VEGA, EVERARDO; HOLTZ, LORI R.; WU, GUANG; WANG, DAVID; STINE, COLIN O.; et al. A diverse group of small circular ssDNA viral genomes in human and non-human primate stools. VIRUS EVOLUTION, v. 1, n. 1, MAR 2015. (14/05211-2, 12/03417-7)