Molecular evaluation of viruses of clinical interest in plasma samples of patients with stem-cell transplantation

• Grant number: 21/10595-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
• Grantee: Lara Okuyama Afonso Costa
• Host Institution: Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto. Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da USP (HCMRP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/23205-8 - Evaluation of the impact of emerging and reemerging viruses in the field of hemotherapy and stem cell transplantation by multiple-research approach, AP.JP

Abstract

In a metagenomic study that analyzed plasma samples of 32 patients subjected to hematopoietic transplantation, revealed the presence of clinically relevant viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and human mastadenovirus B. Nonetheless, the performed metagenomic analysis also revealed the presence of commensal viruses in a few cases, especially TTV along with an expressive quantity of reads belonging to human pegivirus (HPgV-1). Thus, due to the immune suppression of the patients subjected to transplantation and aiming to monitor them, it is of extreme importance the molecular confirmation of the metagenomically detected viruses as well as the correlation of the clinical data of these individuals (presence of symptoms related to infectious diseases, transplant rejection)with the molecular findings. Therefore, all previously collected plasma samples will be subjected to nucleic acids extraction and screened through real-time PCR for HHV-6, CMV Mastadenovirus and HPgV-1. Moreover, due to its significance for the hematopoietic transplantation, we will also test the samples for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, despite the fact that this virus was not detected by the metagenomic analysis. It is expected that through this molecular screening, it may be possible to reveal the presence of viral agents and their impact on the stem-cell transplantation area.(AU)