Discovering novel viruses in communities encroaching tropical hotspots via a metagenomics approach

• Grant number: 13/22136-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Paolo Marinho de Andrade Zanotto
• Grantee: Nicholas Di Paola
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Metagenomic approaches have demonstrated a huge array of unknown viruses present in the environment and in human populations. Fragmentation and encroachment of tropical rainforests in Brazil have exponentially increased chances for human exposure to diverse, exotic and novel zoonotic viruses. Several South-Atlantic tropical rainforests border small human populations that have access to densely populated metropolises and international seaports. Given the large potential for spill-over, we will collect serum samples from communal zones that geographically have the greatest contact with these tropical hotspots. In this project, we aim to identify novel viruses using (1) a deep-sequencing approach and (2) an in silico approach via Hidden Markov Model profiling. We hope to further characterize putative novel viruses by attempting to culture them in cells for future research and to determine the prevalence of human infection through serology. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(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)

DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; CUNHA, MARIELTON DOS PASSOS; DURIGON, GIULIANA STRAVINSKAS; BEREZIN, EITAN NAAMAN; DURIGON, EDISON; LEAL DE OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO. Complete Genome Sequences of Five Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Isolates Collected in Brazil. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 7, FEB 2018. (14/17766-9, 16/08204-2, 13/22136-1)

FALL, GAMOU; DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; FAYE, MARTIN; DIA, MOUSSA; DE MELO FREIRE, CAIO CESAR; LOUCOUBAR, CHEIKH; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO; FAYE, OUSMANE; SALL, AMADOU ALPHA. Biological and phylogenetic characteristics of West African lineages of West Nile. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 11, n. 11, NOV 2017. (14/17766-9, 13/22136-1)

DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; CUNHA, MARIELTON DOS PASSOS; DURIGON, GIULIANA STRAVINSKAS; BEREZIN, EITAN NAAMAN; DURIGON, EDISON; LEAL DE OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO. Complete Genome Sequences of Two Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Isolates Collected in Brazil. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 5, n. 49, DEC 2017. (14/17766-9, 16/08204-2, 13/22136-1)

DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; MESQUITA, FLAVIO S.; LEAL DE OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; VILLABONA-ARENAS, CHRISTIAN JULIAN; POUR, SHAHAB ZAKI; DE SOUSA-CAPRA, CARLA; LOPES, GABRIELA PESSANHA; FERRAZ SANTANA, RUBIA ANITA; REBELLO PINHO, JOAO RENATO; BALARINI, KARIME; et al. An Outbreak of Human Parvovirus B19 Hidden by Dengue Fever. Clinical Infectious Diseases, v. 68, n. 5, p. 810-817, MAR 1 2019. (14/17766-9, 15/25643-7, 13/22136-1)

DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; DE MELO FREIRE, CAIO CESAR; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO. Does adaptation to vertebrate codon usage relate to flavivirus emergence potential?. PLoS One, v. 13, n. 1, JAN 31 2018. (13/22136-1)

DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; CUNHA, MARIELTON DOS PASSOS; DURIGON, GIULIANA STRAVINSKAS; BEREZIN, EITAN NAAMAN; DURIGON, EDISON; LEAL OLIVEIRA, DANIELLE BRUNA; DE ANDRADE ZANOTTO, PAOLO MARINHO. Complete Genome Sequence of a Human Metapneumovirus Isolate Collected in Brazil. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 6, FEB 2018. (14/17766-9, 16/08204-2, 13/22136-1)

BARBOSA, CARLA M.; DI PAOLA, NICHOLAS; CUNHA, MARIELTON P.; RODRIGUES-JESUS, MONICA J.; ARAUJO, DANIELLE B.; SILVEIRA, VANESSA B.; LEAL, FABYANO B.; MESQUITA, FLAVIO S.; BOTOSSO, VIVIANE F.; ZANOTTO, PAOLO M. A.; et al. Yellow Fever Virus RNA in Urine and Semen of Convalescent Patient, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 24, n. 1, p. 176-178, JAN 2018. (14/17766-9, 14/21141-4, 16/08727-5, 13/22136-1, 16/08204-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PAOLA, Nicholas Di. Discovering and characterizing emerging and re-emerging viruses in communities encroaching tropical hotspots.. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.