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Tuladhar ET, Shrestha S, Vernon S, Droit L, Mihindukulasuriya KA, Tamang M, Karki L, Elong Ngono A, Jha B, Awal BK, Chalise BS, Jha R, Shresta S, Wang D, Manandhar KD. Gemykibivirus detection in acute encephalitis patients from Nepal. mSphere 2024; 9:e0021924. [PMID: 38904383 PMCID: PMC11287993 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00219-24] [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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Nepal, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) accounts for ~5-20% of AES cases, but ~75% of AES cases are of unknown etiology. We identified a gemykibivirus in CSF collected in 2020 from an 8-year-old male patient with AES using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Gemykibiviruses are single stranded, circular DNA viruses in the family Genomoviridae. The complete genome of 2,211 nucleotides was sequenced, which shared 98.69% nucleotide identity to its closest relative, Human associated gemykibivirus 2 isolate SAfia-449D. Two real-time PCR assays were designed, and screening of 337 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 164 serum samples from AES patients in Nepal collected in 2020 and 2022 yielded 11 CSF and 1 serum sample that were positive in both PCR assays. Complete genomes of seven of the positives were sequenced. These results identify a potential candidate etiologic agent of encephalitis in Nepal. IMPORTANCE Viral encephalitis is a devastating disease, but unfortunately, worldwide, the causative virus in many cases is unknown. Therefore, it is important to identify viruses that could be responsible for cases of human encephalitis. Here, using metagenomic sequencing of CSF, we identified a gemykibivirus in a male child from Nepal with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). We subsequently detected gemykibivirus DNA in CSF or serum of 12 more encephalitis patients by real-time PCR. The virus genomes we identified are highly similar to gemykibiviruses previously detected in CSF of three encephalitis patients from Sri Lanka. These results raise the possibility that gemykibivirus could be an underrecognized human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eans Tara Tuladhar
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Smita Shrestha
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Susan Vernon
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lindsay Droit
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Mamta Tamang
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Lata Karki
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Bimlesh Jha
- National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | | | - Runa Jha
- National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sujan Shresta
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, San Diego, California, USA
| | - David Wang
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Kandathil AJ, Thomas DL. The Blood Virome: A new frontier in biomedical science. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116608. [PMID: 38703502 PMCID: PMC11184943 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116608] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in metagenomic testing opened a new window into the mammalian blood virome. Comprised of well-known viruses like human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, the virome also includes many other eukaryotic viruses and phages whose medical significance, lifecycle, epidemiology, and impact on human health are less well known and thus regarded as commensals. This review synthesizes available information for the so-called commensal virome members that circulate in the blood of humans considering their restriction to and interaction with the human host, their natural history, and their impact on human health and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham J Kandathil
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David L Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Tuladhar ET, Shrestha S, Vernon S, Droit L, Mihindukulasuriya KA, Tamang M, Karki L, Ngono AE, Jha B, Awal BK, Chalise BS, Jha R, Shresta S, Wang D, Manandhar KD. Gemykibivirus detection in acute encephalitis patients from Nepal. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.02.13.24302648. [PMID: 38405898 PMCID: PMC10889008 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.24302648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Nepal, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) accounts for ~ 5-20% of AES cases, but ~75% of AES cases are of unknown etiology. We identified a gemykibivirus in CSF collected in 2020 from a male child with AES using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Gemykibiviruses are single stranded, circular DNA viruses in the family Genomoviridae. The complete genome of 2211 nucleotides was sequenced which shared 98.69% nucleotide identity to its closest relative, Human associated gemykibivirus 2 isolate SAfia-449D. Two real-time PCR assays were designed, and screening of 337 CSF and 164 serum samples from AES patients in Nepal collected in 2020 and 2022 yielded 11 CSF and 1 serum sample that were positive in both PCR assays. Complete genomes of 7 of the positives were sequenced. These results identify a candidate etiologic agent of encephalitis in Nepal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eans Tara Tuladhar
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Smita Shrestha
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Susan Vernon
- Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Lindsay Droit
- Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | | | - Mamta Tamang
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Lata Karki
- Tribhuvan University Central Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Bimlesh Jha
- National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | | | - Runa Jha
- National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sujan Shresta
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, California, United States
| | - David Wang
- Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
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Fomsgaard AS, Tahas SA, Spiess K, Polacek C, Fonager J, Belsham GJ. Unbiased Virus Detection in a Danish Zoo Using a Portable Metagenomic Sequencing System. Viruses 2023; 15:1399. [PMID: 37376698 DOI: 10.3390/v15061399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is receiving increased attention for the detection of new viruses and infections occurring at the human-animal interface. The ability to actively transport and relocate this technology enables in situ virus identification, which could reduce response time and enhance disease management. In a previous study, we developed a straightforward mNGS procedure that greatly enhances the detection of RNA and DNA viruses in human clinical samples. In this study, we improved the mNGS protocol with transportable battery-driven equipment for the portable, non-targeted detection of RNA and DNA viruses in animals from a large zoological facility, to simulate a field setting for point-of-incidence virus detection. From the resulting metagenomic data, we detected 13 vertebrate viruses from four major virus groups: (+)ssRNA, (+)ssRNA-RT, dsDNA and (+)ssDNA, including avian leukosis virus in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus), enzootic nasal tumour virus in goats (Capra hircus) and several small, circular, Rep-encoding, ssDNA (CRESS DNA) viruses in several mammal species. More significantly, we demonstrate that the mNGS method is able to detect potentially lethal animal viruses, such as elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and the newly described human-associated gemykibivirus 2, a human-to-animal cross-species virus, in a Linnaeus two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and its enclosure, for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Fomsgaard
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 4 Stigboejlen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Katja Spiess
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotta Polacek
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jannik Fonager
- Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Graham J Belsham
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 4 Stigboejlen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Abundance of Phasi-Charoen-like virus in Aedes aegypti mosquito populations in different states of India. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277276. [PMID: 36490242 PMCID: PMC9733876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are known to harbor a large number of insect specific viruses (ISV) in addition to viruses of public health importance. These ISVs are highly species specific and are non-pathogenic to humans or domestic animals. However, there is a potential threat of these ISVs evolving into human pathogens by genome alterations. Some ISVs are known to modulate replication of pathogenic viruses by altering the susceptibility of vector mosquitoes to pathogenic viruses, thereby either inhibiting or enhancing transmission of the latter. In the present study, we report predominance of Phasi Charoen-like virus (PCLV, Family: Phenuviridae) contributing to >60% of the total reads in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected from Pune district of Maharashtra state using next generation sequencing based metagenomic analysis of viromes. Similar results were also obtained with mosquitoes from Assam, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states of India. Comparison of Pune mosquito sequences with PCLV Rio (Brazil) isolate showed 98.90%, 99.027% and 98.88% homologies in the S, M and L segments respectively indicating less genetic heterogeneity of PCLV. The study also demonstrated occurrence of transovarial transmission as seen by detection of PCLV in eggs, larvae, pupae and male mosquitoes. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected from Pune also showed a large number of reads for viruses belonging to Baculoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Genomoviridae and Bunyaviridae families. The role of PCLV in the replication of dengue and chikungunya virus is yet not clear. It warrants further studies to know the significance of PCLV and other ISVs on the replication and transmission of Ae. aegypti borne pathogenic viruses, especially in the absence of prophylactics or therapeutics.
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