Deep sequencing applied to the analysis of viromes in patients with beta-thalassemia

Author(s):Show less -

Valenca, Ian Nunes ^{[1, 2]} ; dos Santos, Rafael Bezerra ^{[1, 2]} ; Peronni, Kamila Chagas ^[2] ; Sauvage, Virginie ^[3] ; Vandenbogaert, Mathias ^[4] ; Caro, Valerie ^[4] ; da Silva Junior, Wilson Araujo ^[5] ; Covas, Dimas Tadeu ^{[6, 2]} ; Silva-Pinto, Ana Cristina ^[2] ; Laperche, Syria ^[3] ; Kashima, Simone ^[2] ; Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev ^{[6, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Programa Mestrado Oncol Clin Celulas Tronco & Ter, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Hemoctr Ribeirao Preto, Rua Tenente Catao Roxo 2501, BR-14051060 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Ctr Natl Reference Risques Infect Transfus, Inst Natl Transfus, Dept Etud Agents Transmissibles Sang, Paris - France

^[4] Inst Pasteur, Unite Environm & Risques Infect, Cellule Intervent Biol Urgence, Paris - France

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Genet, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Clin Med, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo; v. 63, 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

To date, blood banks apply routine diagnosis to a specific spectrum of transfusion-transmitted viruses. Even though this measure is considered highly efficient to control their transmission, the threat imposed by emerging viruses is increasing globally, which can impact transfusion safety, especially in the light of the accelerated viral discovery by novel sequencing technologies. One of the most important groups of patients, who may indicate the presence of emerging viruses in the field of blood transfusion, is the group of individuals who receive multiple transfusions due to hereditary hemoglobinopathies. It is possible that they harbor unknown or unsuspected parenterally-transmitted viruses. In order to elucidate this, nucleic acids from 30 patients with beta-thalassemia were analyzed by Illumina next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Three major viral families: Anelloviridae, Flaviviridae and Hepadnaviridae were identified. Among them, anelloviruses were the most representative, being detected with high number of reads in all tested samples. Human Pegivirus 1 (HPgV-1, or GBV-C), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) were also identified. HBV and HCV detection was expected due to the high seroprevalence in patients with beta thalassemia. Our results do not confirm the presence of emerging or unsuspected viruses threatening the transfusion safety at present, but can be used to actively search for viruses that threaten blood transfusion safety. We believe that the application of viral metagenomics in multiple-transfused patients is highly useful to monitor possible viral transfusion threats and for the annotation of their virome composition. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/07861-8 - Development of a bioinformatic pipeline for identification of emerging infectious diseases among patients in regimen of chronic transfusion
• Grantee: Ian Nunes Valença
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/08528-0 - Application of bioinformatic procedures for identification of the impact of the viral infections in hemotherapy
• Grantee: Rafael dos Santos Bezerra
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/15826-5 - Evaluation of the impact of emerging and reemerging viruses in the field of hemotherapy and stem-cell transplantation by multiple-research approach
• Grantee: Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 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
• Grantee: Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants