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Cui N, Perez YL, Hume AJ, Nunley BE, Kong K, Mills MG, Xie H, Greninger AL. A high-throughput, polymerase-targeted RT-PCR for broad detection of mammalian filoviruses. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0101024. [PMID: 39046245 PMCID: PMC11370238 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01010-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Filoviruses are some of the most lethal viruses in the modern world, and increasing numbers of filovirus species and genera have been discovered in recent years. Despite the potential severity of filovirus outbreaks in the human population, comparably few sensitive pan-filovirus RT-PCR assays have been described that might facilitate early detection and prevention. Here, we present a new pan-filovirus RT-PCR assay targeting the L polymerase gene for detection of all known mammalian filoviruses. We demonstrate the detection of 10 synthetic filovirus RNA templates with analytical sensitivity ranging from 178 to 3,354 copies/mL, without cross-reactivity on 10 non-filoviral human viral species. We verified assay performance on 10 inactivated filovirus isolates, yielding initial sensitivities of 0.012-44.17 TCID50/mL. We coupled this broadly reactive RT-PCR with a deep sequencing workflow that is amenable to high-throughput pooling to maximize detection and discovery potential. In summary, this pan-filovirus RT-PCR assay targets the most conserved filovirus gene, offers the widest breadth of coverage to date, and may help in the detection and discovery of novel filoviruses.IMPORTANCEFiloviruses remain some of the most mysterious viruses known to the world, with extremely high lethality rates and significant pandemic potential. Yet comparably few filovirus species and genera have been discovered to date and questions surround the definitive host species for zoonotic infections. Here, we describe a novel broadly reactive RT-PCR assay targeting the conserved L polymerase gene for high-throughput screening for filoviruses in a variety of clinical and environmental specimens. We demonstrate the assay can detect all known mammalian filoviruses and determine the sensitivity and specificity of the assay on synthetic RNA sequences, inactivated filovirus isolates, and non-filoviral species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Cui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yael L. Perez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Adam J. Hume
- Department of Microbiology/National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - B. Ethan Nunley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kevin Kong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Margaret G. Mills
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexander L. Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Jääskeläinen AJ, Sironen T, Kaloinen M, Kakkola L, Julkunen I, Hewson R, Weidmann MW, Mirazimi A, Watson R, Vapalahti O. Comparison of Zaire ebolavirus realtime RT-PCRs targeting the nucleoprotein gene. J Virol Methods 2020; 284:113941. [PMID: 32707049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In last five years, the Africa has faced two outbreaks of Zaire ebolavirus. These outbreaks have been the largest so far, and latest outbreak is still ongoing and affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We tested in parallel three different Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) realtime RT-PCRs targeting the nucleoprotein gene (EBOV NP-RT-qPCRs) described by Trombley et al. (2010); Huang et al. (2012) and Weidmann et al. (2004). These assays are used regularly in diagnostic laboratories. The limit of detection (LOD), intra-assay repeatability using different matrixes, sensitivity and specificity were determined. In addition, the primers and probes were aligned with the sequences available in ongoing and past outbreaks in order to check the mismatches. The specificity of all three EBOV NP-RT-qPCRs were excellent (100 %), and LODs were under or 10 copies per PCR reaction. Intra-assay repeatability was good in all assays, however the Ct-values were bit higher using the EDTA-blood based matrix. All of the primers and probes in EBOV NP-RT-qPCR assays have one or more mismatches in the probes and primers when the 2267 Zaire EBOV NP sequences, including strains Ituri from DRC outbreak (year 2018), was aligned. The EBOV strain of Bikoro (year 2018) circulating in DRC was 100 % match in Trombley and Weidmann assay, but had one mismatch in Huang assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne J Jääskeläinen
- HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
| | - Tarja Sironen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minttu Kaloinen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Kakkola
- University of Turku, Institute of Biomedicine, Turku, Finland
| | - Ilkka Julkunen
- University of Turku, Institute of Biomedicine, Turku, Finland
| | - Roger Hewson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred W Weidmann
- University of Stirling, Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Mirazimi
- Public Health Agency of Sweden, Department of Microbiology, Solna, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Department of Laboratory Medicine (LABMED), Stockholm, Sweden; National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Watson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
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3
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Bonney LC, Watson RJ, Slack GS, Bosworth A, Wand NIV, Hewson R. A flexible format LAMP assay for rapid detection of Ebola virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008496. [PMID: 32735587 PMCID: PMC7423149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unprecedented 2013/16 outbreak of Zaire ebolavirus (Ebola virus) in West Africa has highighted the need for rapid, high-throughput and POC diagnostic assays to enable timely detection and appropriate triaging of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients. Ebola virus is highly infectious and prompt diagnosis and triage is crucial in preventing further spread within community and healthcare settings. Moreover, due to the ecology of Ebola virus it is important that newly developed diagnostic assays are suitable for use in both the healthcare environment and low resource rural locations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS A LAMP assay was successfully developed with three detection formats; a real-time intercalating dye-based assay, a real-time probe-based assay to enable multiplexing and an end-point colourimetric assay to simplify interpretation for the field. All assay formats were sensitive and specific, detecting a range of Ebola virus strains isolated in 1976-2014; with Probit analysis predicting limits of detection of 243, 290 and 75 copies/reaction respectively and no cross-detection of related strains or other viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF's). The assays are rapid, (as fast as 5-7.25 mins for real-time formats) and robust, detecting Ebola virus RNA in presence of minimally diluted bodily fluids. Moreover, when tested on patient samples from the 2013/16 outbreak, there were no false positives and 93-96% of all new case positives were detected, with only a failure to detect very low copy number samples. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE These are a set of robust and adaptable diagnostic solutions, which are fast, easy-to-perform-and-interpret and are suitable for use on a range of platforms including portable low-power devices. They can be readily transferred to field-laboratory settings, with no specific equipment needs and are therefore ideally placed for use in locations with limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Bonney
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Watson
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian S. Slack
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Bosworth
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Nadina I. Vasileva Wand
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, National Infection Service, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
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Amman BR, Bird BH, Bakarr IA, Bangura J, Schuh AJ, Johnny J, Sealy TK, Conteh I, Koroma AH, Foday I, Amara E, Bangura AA, Gbakima AA, Tremeau-Bravard A, Belaganahalli M, Dhanota J, Chow A, Ontiveros V, Gibson A, Turay J, Patel K, Graziano J, Bangura C, Kamanda ES, Osborne A, Saidu E, Musa J, Bangura D, Williams SMT, Wadsworth R, Turay M, Edwin L, Mereweather-Thompson V, Kargbo D, Bairoh FV, Kanu M, Robert W, Lungai V, Guetiya Wadoum RE, Coomber M, Kanu O, Jambai A, Kamara SM, Taboy CH, Singh T, Mazet JAK, Nichol ST, Goldstein T, Towner JS, Lebbie A. Isolation of Angola-like Marburg virus from Egyptian rousette bats from West Africa. Nat Commun 2020; 11:510. [PMID: 31980636 PMCID: PMC6981187 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) causes sporadic outbreaks of severe Marburg virus disease (MVD). Most MVD outbreaks originated in East Africa and field studies in East Africa, South Africa, Zambia, and Gabon identified the Egyptian rousette bat (ERB; Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a natural reservoir. However, the largest recorded MVD outbreak with the highest case-fatality ratio happened in 2005 in Angola, where direct spillover from bats was not shown. Here, collaborative studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Njala University, University of California, Davis USAID-PREDICT, and the University of Makeni identify MARV circulating in ERBs in Sierra Leone. PCR, antibody and virus isolation data from 1755 bats of 42 species shows active MARV infection in approximately 2.5% of ERBs. Phylogenetic analysis identifies MARVs that are similar to the Angola strain. These results provide evidence of MARV circulation in West Africa and demonstrate the value of pathogen surveillance to identify previously undetected threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Amman
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Brian H Bird
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ibrahim A Bakarr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - James Bangura
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- University of Makeni, Makeni, Sierra Leone
| | - Amy J Schuh
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Jonathan Johnny
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Tara K Sealy
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Immah Conteh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Alusine H Koroma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim Foday
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Aiah A Gbakima
- Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, New England Ville, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Jasjeet Dhanota
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Andrew Chow
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Victoria Ontiveros
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Alexandra Gibson
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | - Ketan Patel
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - James Graziano
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Camilla Bangura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Emmanuel S Kamanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Augustus Osborne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Emmanuel Saidu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Jonathan Musa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | - Doris Bangura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Richard Wadsworth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Osman Kanu
- University of Makeni, Makeni, Sierra Leone
| | - Amara Jambai
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Sorie M Kamara
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Celine H Taboy
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Tushar Singh
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Jonna A K Mazet
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Stuart T Nichol
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Tracey Goldstein
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive VetMed 3B, Ground Floor West, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Towner
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Aiah Lebbie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone.
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5
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Goldstein T, Belaganahalli MN, Syaluha EK, Lukusa JPK, Greig DJ, Anthony SJ, Tremeau-Bravard A, Thakkar R, Caciula A, Mishra N, Lipkin WI, Dhanota JK, Smith BR, Ontiveros VM, Randhawa N, Cranfield M, Johnson CK, Gilardi KV, Mazet JAK. Spillover of ebolaviruses into people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo prior to the 2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2020; 2:21. [PMID: 33169111 PMCID: PMC7609368 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-020-00028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The second largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 2018 in North Kivu Province. Data suggest the outbreak is not epidemiologically linked to the 2018 outbreak in Equateur Province, and that independent introduction of Ebola virus (EBOV) into humans occurred. We tested for antibodies to ebolaviruses in febrile patients seeking care in North Kivu Province prior to the EVD outbreak. METHODS Patients were enrolled between May 2017 and April 2018, before the declared start of the outbreak in eastern DRC. Questionnaires were administered to collect demographic and behavioural information to identify risk factors for exposure. Biological samples were evaluated for ebolavirus nucleic acid, and for antibodies to ebolaviruses. Prevalence of exposure was calculated, and demographic factors evaluated for associations with ebolavirus serostatus. RESULTS Samples were collected and tested from 272 people seeking care in the Rutshuru Health Zone in North Kivu Province. All patients were negative for filoviruses by PCR. Intial screening by indirect ELISA found that 30 people were reactive to EBOV-rGP. Results were supported by detection of ebolavirus reactive linear peptides using the Serochip platform. Differential screening of all reactive serum samples against the rGP of all six ebolaviruses and Marburg virus (MARV) showed that 29 people exhibited the strongest reactivity to EBOV and one to Bombali virus (BOMV), and western blotting confirmed results. Titers ranged from 1:100 to 1:12,800. Although both sexes and all ages tested positive for antibodies, women were significantly more likely to be positive and the majority of positives were in February 2018. CONCLUSIONS We provide the first documented evidence of exposure to Ebola virus in people in eastern DRC. We detected antibodies to EBOV in 10% of febrile patients seeking healthcare prior to the declaration of the 2018-2020 outbreak, suggesting early cases may have been missed or exposure ocurred without associated illness. We also report the first known detection of antibodies to BOMV, previously detected in bats in West and East Africa, and show that human exposure to BOMV has occurred. Our data suggest human exposure to ebolaviruses may be more frequent and geographically widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Goldstein
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Manjunatha N. Belaganahalli
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Eddy K. Syaluha
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Inc, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jean-Paul K. Lukusa
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Inc, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Denise J. Greig
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Simon J. Anthony
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY USA
| | - Alexandre Tremeau-Bravard
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Riddhi Thakkar
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Adrian Caciula
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Jasjeet K. Dhanota
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Brett R. Smith
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Victoria M. Ontiveros
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Nistara Randhawa
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Michael Cranfield
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Inc, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Christine K. Johnson
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Kirsten V. Gilardi
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Inc, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jonna A. K. Mazet
- One Health Institute & Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, California, USA
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Thirion L, Charrel RN, Boehmann Y, Corcostegui I, Raoul H, de Lamballerie X. Development and Evaluation of a Duo Zaire ebolavirus Real-Time RT-PCR Assay Targeting Two Regions within the Genome. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7120652. [PMID: 31817185 PMCID: PMC6956279 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Preparedness and response actions to mitigate Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks rely on rapid diagnosis to be implemented locally to sort suspect patients attending health centers. Our aim was (i) to develop and evaluate an RT-qPCR assay combining primers and probes derived from two reference assays targeting different genomic regions; (ii) to study whether sensitivity and specificity of this dual-target assay were at least equal or better to the parental assays; (iii) to implement this dual-target assay onto the Cepheid GeneXpert open cartridge as a proof of principle for technological transfer aiming at bedsite testing locally. To do so, three home-made published RT-qPCR assays were selected to be compared with the RealStar® Filovirus Screen RT-PCR kit 1.0 (Altona Diagnostics, Hamburg, Germany), a technique that was largely deployed during the 2014–2015 West African EVD outbreak. Primers and probes sequences of the custom-made assays were analyzed in silico against a multiple sequence alignment, including >250 complete sequences corresponding to strains that have caused EVD epidemics in the past. Genomic RNA purified from the Mekambo strain of Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) was used to study the sensitivity of the five methods. Based on these results, two in-house methods were selected and adapted to design the dual-target assay, which performances were compared to those of the parental assays using a synthetic RNA control. The dual-target assay showed better sensitivity and limit of detection (LoD95 at 0.4 copies/µL) than the parental methods (1.7 and 2.2 copies/µL). Ultimately, the dual-target assay was transferred onto the GeneXpert Flex-03 open cartridge, demonstrating a LoD95 at 0.75 copies/µL. Together these results indicate that EBOV dual-target assay has the potential to be used during EVD outbreak in the laboratory having performed molecular testing during the recent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Thirion
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), Aix Marseille Universite, Marseille 13000, France; (L.T.); (Y.B.); (I.C.); (X.d.L.)
| | - Remi N. Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), Aix Marseille Universite, Marseille 13000, France; (L.T.); (Y.B.); (I.C.); (X.d.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Yannik Boehmann
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), Aix Marseille Universite, Marseille 13000, France; (L.T.); (Y.B.); (I.C.); (X.d.L.)
| | - Iban Corcostegui
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), Aix Marseille Universite, Marseille 13000, France; (L.T.); (Y.B.); (I.C.); (X.d.L.)
| | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratory P4-Jean Mérieux, INSERM, Lyon 69007, France;
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD 190, INSERM U1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), Aix Marseille Universite, Marseille 13000, France; (L.T.); (Y.B.); (I.C.); (X.d.L.)
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7
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Reusken CB, Mögling R, Smit PW, Grunow R, Ippolito G, Di Caro A, Koopmans M. Status, quality and specific needs of Ebola virus diagnostic capacity and capability in laboratories of the two European preparedness laboratory networks EMERGE and EVD-LabNet. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 23. [PMID: 29766839 PMCID: PMC5954606 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.19.17-00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
From December 2013 to March 2016, West Africa experienced the largest Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak to date, leading to a European-wide activation of laboratory preparedness and response. At the end of the outbreak, laboratories associated with the two European preparedness networks of expert laboratories EMERGE JA and EVD-LabNet were invited to participate in an assessment of the response of European laboratories to the EBOV outbreak, to identify learning points and training needs to strengthen future outbreak responses. Response aspects assessed included diagnostics, biorisk management and quality assurance. The overall coverage of EBOV diagnostics in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) was found to be adequate although some points for quality improvement were identified. These included the need for relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation, the provision of EBOV external quality assessments (EQA) in periods where there is no emergency, facilitating access to controls and knowledge, biorisk management without compromising biosafety and a rapid public health response, and the need for both sustained and contingency funding for preparedness and response activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B Reusken
- Department of Viroscience, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ramona Mögling
- Department of Viroscience, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter W Smit
- Department of Viroscience, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonino Di Caro
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy
| | - Marion Koopmans
- Department of Viroscience, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Tembo J, Simulundu E, Changula K, Handley D, Gilbert M, Chilufya M, Asogun D, Ansumana R, Kapata N, Ntoumi F, Ippolito G, Zumla A, Bates M. Recent advances in the development and evaluation of molecular diagnostics for Ebola virus disease. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:325-340. [PMID: 30916590 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1595592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The 2014-16 outbreak of ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa resulted in 11,308 deaths. During the outbreak only 60% of patients were laboratory confirmed and global health authorities have identified the need for accurate and readily deployable molecular diagnostics as an important component of the ideal response to future outbreaks, to quickly identify and isolate patients. Areas covered: Currently PCR-based techniques and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) that detect antigens specific to EVD infections dominate the diagnostic landscape, but recent advances in biosensor technologies have led to novel approaches for the development of EVD diagnostics. This review summarises the literature and available performance data of currently available molecular diagnostics for ebolavirus, identifies knowledge gaps and maps out future priorities for research in this field. Expert opinion: While there are now a plethora of diagnostic tests for EVD at various stages of development, there is an acute need for studies to compare their clinical performance, but the sporadic nature of EVD outbreaks makes this extremely challenging, demanding pragmatic new modalities of research funding and ethical/institutional approval, to enable responsive research in outbreak settings. Retrospective head-to-head diagnostic comparisons could also be implemented using biobanked specimens, providing this can be done safely.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tembo
- a HerpeZ , University Teaching hospital , Lusaka , Zambia
| | - Edgar Simulundu
- b Department of Disease Control , University of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine , Lusaka , Zambia
| | - Katendi Changula
- b Department of Disease Control , University of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine , Lusaka , Zambia
| | - Dale Handley
- c School of Life Sciences , University of Lincoln , Lincoln , UK
| | - Matthew Gilbert
- c School of Life Sciences , University of Lincoln , Lincoln , UK
| | - Moses Chilufya
- a HerpeZ , University Teaching hospital , Lusaka , Zambia
| | - Danny Asogun
- d Lassa fever research institute , Irrua University Teaching Hospital , Irrua , Nigeria
| | | | - Nathan Kapata
- f Zambia National Public Health Institute , Lusaka , Zambia
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- g Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale , Brazzaville , Republic of Congo
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- h National Institute for Infectious Diseases , Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS , Rome , Italy
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- i Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity , University College London (UCL) , London , UK.,j National Institute of Health and Research Biomedical Research Centre , UCL Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - Matthew Bates
- a HerpeZ , University Teaching hospital , Lusaka , Zambia.,c School of Life Sciences , University of Lincoln , Lincoln , UK.,i Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity , University College London (UCL) , London , UK
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9
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Jääskeläinen AJ, Sironen T, Diagne CT, Diagne MM, Faye M, Faye O, Faye O, Hewson R, Mölsä M, Weidmann MW, Watson R, Sall AA, Vapalahti O. Development, validation and clinical evaluation of a broad-range pan-filovirus RT-qPCR. J Clin Virol 2019; 114:26-31. [PMID: 30904708 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the five decades since their discovery, filoviruses of four species have caused human hemorrhagic fever outbreaks: Marburg (MARV) marburgvirus, and Zaire (EBOV), Sudan (SUDV) and Bundybugyo (BDBV) ebolaviruses. The largest, devastating EBOV epidemic in West Africa in 2014-16, has been followed by outbreaks of MARV in Uganda, 2017, and EBOV in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018, emphasizing the need to develop preparedness to diagnose all filoviruses. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to optimize a new filovirus RT-qPCR to detect all filoviruses, define its limits of detection (LOD) and perform a field evaluation with outbreak samples. STUDY DESIGN A pan-filovirus RT-qPCR targeting the L gene was developed and evaluated within the EbolaMoDRAD (Ebola virus: modern approaches for developing bedside rapid diagnostics) project. Specificity and sensitivity were determined and the effect of inactivation and PCR reagents (liquid and lyophilized format) were tested. RESULTS The LODs for the lyophilized pan-filovirus L-RT-qPCR assay were 9.4 copies per PCR reaction for EBOV, 9.9 for MARV, 1151 for SUDV, 65 for BDBV and 289 for Taï Forest virus. The test was set at the Pasteur Institute, Dakar, Senegal, and 83 Ebola patient samples, with viral load ranging from 5 to 5 million copies of EBOV per reaction, were screened. The results for the patient samples were in 100% concordance with the reference EBOV-specific assay. DISCUSSION Overall, the assay showed good sensitivity and specificity, covered all filoviruses known to be human pathogens, performed well both in lyophilized and liquid-phase formats and with EBOV outbreak clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne J Jääskeläinen
- Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital (HUSLAB), Department of Virology, Finland.
| | - Tarja Sironen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Martin Faye
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Pôle de virologie, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Oumar Faye
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Pôle de virologie, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Ousmane Faye
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Pôle de virologie, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Roger Hewson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Markos Mölsä
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Biothreat unit, Centre for Military Medicine, Helsinki, Finland Centres for Biothreat Preparedness and for Military Medicine, Finnish Defence Forces, Finland
| | - Manfred W Weidmann
- University of Stirling, Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Watson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | | | - Olli Vapalahti
- Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital (HUSLAB), Department of Virology, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Jääskeläinen AJ, Korhonen EM, Huhtamo E, Lappalainen M, Vapalahti O, Kallio-Kokko H. Validation of serological and molecular methods for diagnosis of zika virus infections. J Virol Methods 2019; 263:68-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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11
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Goldstein T, Anthony SJ, Gbakima A, Bird BH, Bangura J, Tremeau-Bravard A, Belaganahalli MN, Wells HL, Dhanota JK, Liang E, Grodus M, Jangra RK, DeJesus VA, Lasso G, Smith BR, Jambai A, Kamara BO, Kamara S, Bangura W, Monagin C, Shapira S, Johnson CK, Saylors K, Rubin EM, Chandran K, Lipkin WI, Mazet JAK. The discovery of Bombali virus adds further support for bats as hosts of ebolaviruses. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1084-1089. [PMID: 30150734 PMCID: PMC6557442 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe the complete genome of a new ebolavirus, Bombali virus (BOMV) detected in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone (little free-tailed (Chaerephon pumilus) and Angolan free-tailed (Mops condylurus)). The bats were found roosting inside houses, indicating the potential for human transmission. We show that the viral glycoprotein can mediate entry into human cells. However, further studies are required to investigate whether exposure has actually occurred or if BOMV is pathogenic in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Goldstein
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Simon J Anthony
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Aiah Gbakima
- Metabiota, Inc. Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Brian H Bird
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - James Bangura
- Metabiota, Inc. Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Alexandre Tremeau-Bravard
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Manjunatha N Belaganahalli
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Heather L Wells
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jasjeet K Dhanota
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Eliza Liang
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Grodus
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rohit K Jangra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Veronica A DeJesus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gorka Lasso
- Department of Systems Biology, Irving Cancer Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brett R Smith
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Amara Jambai
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Sorie Kamara
- Livestock and Veterinary Services Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - William Bangura
- Forestry and Wildlife Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Corina Monagin
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Metabiota, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sagi Shapira
- Department of Systems Biology, Irving Cancer Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine K Johnson
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Kartik Chandran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonna A K Mazet
- One Health Institute & Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Montoya-Ruiz C, Rodas JD. Epidemiological Surveillance of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers With Emphasis on Clinical Virology. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1604:55-78. [PMID: 28986825 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6981-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
This article will outline surveillance approaches for viral hemorrhagic fevers. Specific methods for surveillance of clinical samples will be emphasized. Separate articles will describe methods for surveillance of rodent-borne viruses (roboviruses) and arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Since the appearance of hantaviruses and arenaviruses in the Americas, more than 30 different species in each group have been established, and therefore they have become the most frequently emerging viruses. Flaviviruses such as yellow fever and dengue viruses, although easier to recognize, are also more widely spread and therefore considered a very important public health issue, particularly for under-developed countries. On the other hand, marburgviruses and ebolaviruses, previously thought to be restricted to the African continent, have recently been shown to be more global. For many of these agents virus isolation has been a challenging task: trapping the specific vectors (mosquitoes and ticks), and reservoirs (rodents and bats), or obtaining the samples from suspected clinical human cases demands special protective gear, uncommon devices (respirators), special facilities (BSL-3 and 4), and particular skills to recognize the slow and inapparent cytopathic effects in cell culture. Alternatively, serological and molecular approaches have been very helpful in discovering and describing newly emerging viruses in many areas where the previous resources are unavailable. Unfortunately, in many cases, detailed studies have been performed only after outbreaks occur, and then active surveillance is needed to prevent viral dissemination in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Montoya-Ruiz
- Linea de Zoonosis Emergentes y Re-emergentes, Grupo Centauro, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan David Rodas
- Linea de Zoonosis Emergentes y Re-emergentes, Grupo Centauro, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.
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13
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Ebola Preparedness: Diagnosis Improvement Using Rapid Approaches for Proficiency Testing. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 55:783-790. [PMID: 27974537 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02173-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented 2015 Ebolavirus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa was declared a public health emergency, making diagnosis and quality of testing a global issue. The accuracy of laboratory diagnostic capacity for EBOV was assessed in 2014 to 2016 using a proficiency testing (PT) strategy developed by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP) in Biosecurity. Following a literature search, EBOV-specific gene targets were ranked according to the frequency of their use in published methods. The most commonly used gene regions (nucleoprotein [NP], glycoprotein [GP], and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [L]) were selected for the design of in vitro RNA transcripts to be included in the simulated EBOV specimens used for EBOV detection with PCR-based assays. Specimens were tested for stability and found to be stable on long-term storage (1 year) at -80°C and on shorter-term storage in lyophilized form (1 week at ambient temperature and a subsequent week at -80°C). These specimens were used in three EBOV PTs offered from April 2014 to March 2016. In the first and third PTs, all laboratories (3/3 and 9/9, respectively) correctly identified specimens containing EBOV RNA transcripts, while in the second PT, all but one laboratory (5/6) correctly confirmed the presence of EBOV. The EBOV PT panel was useful for ensuring the competency of laboratories in detecting EBOV in the absence of readily available clinical samples. The simulated EBOV specimen was safe, stable, and reliable and can be used in lyophilized form for future EBOV PT programs, allowing simplicity of transport.
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EbolaID: An Online Database of Informative Genomic Regions for Ebola Identification and Treatment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004757. [PMID: 27441375 PMCID: PMC4956216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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15
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Cherpillod P, Schibler M, Vieille G, Cordey S, Mamin A, Vetter P, Kaiser L. Ebola virus disease diagnosis by real-time RT-PCR: A comparative study of 11 different procedures. J Clin Virol 2016; 77:9-14. [PMID: 26874083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of Ebola virus disease relies on the detection of viral RNA in blood by real-time reverse-transcription PCR. While several of these assays were developed during the unprecedented 2013-2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, few were applied in the field. OBJECTIVES To compare technical performances and practical aspects of 11 Ebola virus real-time reverse-transcription PCR procedures. STUDY DESIGN We selected the most promising assays using serial dilutions of culture-derived Ebola virus RNA and determined their analytical sensitivity and potential range of quantification using quantified in vitro transcribed RNA; viral load values in the serum of an Ebola virus disease patient obtained with these assays were reported. Finally, ease of use and turnaround times of these kits were evaluated. RESULTS Commercial assays were at least as sensitive as in-house tests. Five of the former (Altona, Roche, Fast-track Diagnostics, and Life Technologies) were selected for further evaluation. Despite differences in analytical sensitivity and limits of quantification, all of them were suitable for Ebola virus diagnosis and viral load estimation. The Lifetech Lyophilized Ebola Virus (Zaire 2014) assay (Life Technologies) appeared particularly promising, displaying the highest analytical sensitivity and shortest turnaround time, in addition to requiring no reagent freezing. CONCLUSIONS Commercial kits were at least as sensitive as in-house tests and potentially easier to use in the field than the latter. This qualitative comparison of real-time reverse transcription PCR assays may serve as a basis for the design of future Ebola virus disease diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Cherpillod
- Swiss National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Schibler
- Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Gaël Vieille
- Swiss National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Cordey
- Swiss National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aline Mamin
- Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Vetter
- Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Swiss National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory of Virology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
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Mattiuzzo G, Ashall J, Doris KS, MacLellan-Gibson K, Nicolson C, Wilkinson DE, Harvey R, Almond N, Anderson R, Efstathiou S, Minor PD, Page M. Development of Lentivirus-Based Reference Materials for Ebola Virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology-Based Assays. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142751. [PMID: 26562415 PMCID: PMC4642882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2013-present Ebola virus outbreak in Western Africa has prompted the production of many diagnostic assays, mostly based on nucleic acid amplification technologies (NAT). The calibration and performance assessment of established assays and those under evaluation requires reference materials that can be used in parallel with the clinical sample to standardise or control for every step of the procedure, from extraction to the final qualitative/quantitative result. We have developed safe and stable Ebola virus RNA reference materials by encapsidating anti sense viral RNA into HIV-1-like particles. The lentiviral particles are replication-deficient and non-infectious due to the lack of HIV-1 genes and Envelope protein. Ebola virus genes were subcloned for encapsidation into two lentiviral preparations, one containing NP-VP35-GP and the other VP40 and L RNA. Each reference material was formulated as a high-titre standard for use as a calibrator for secondary or internal standards, and a 10,000-fold lower titre preparation to serve as an in-run control. The preparations have been freeze-dried to maximise stability. These HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials were suitable for use with in-house and commercial quantitative RT-PCR assays and with digital RT-PCR. The HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials are stable at up to 37°C for two weeks, allowing the shipment of the material worldwide at ambient temperature. These results support further evaluation of the HIV-Ebola virus RNA reference materials as part of an International collaborative study for the establishment of the 1st International Standard for Ebola virus RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Mattiuzzo
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - James Ashall
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn S. Doris
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty MacLellan-Gibson
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn Nicolson
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Dianna E. Wilkinson
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Harvey
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Almond
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Anderson
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Stacey Efstathiou
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D. Minor
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Page
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls-MHRA, South Mimms-Potters Bar, United Kingdom
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