Using Small RNA Deep Sequencing Data to Detect Human Viruses

Biomed Res Int. 2016:2016:2596782. doi: 10.1155/2016/2596782. Epub 2016 Mar 15.

Abstract

Small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) can be used to detect viruses in infected hosts without the necessity to have any prior knowledge or specialized sample preparation. The sRNA-seq method was initially used for viral detection and identification in plants and then in invertebrates and fungi. However, it is still controversial to use sRNA-seq in the detection of mammalian or human viruses. In this study, we used 931 sRNA-seq runs of data from the NCBI SRA database to detect and identify viruses in human cells or tissues, particularly from some clinical samples. Six viruses including HPV-18, HBV, HCV, HIV-1, SMRV, and EBV were detected from 36 runs of data. Four viruses were consistent with the annotations from the previous studies. HIV-1 was found in clinical samples without the HIV-positive reports, and SMRV was found in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma cells for the first time. In conclusion, these results suggest the sRNA-seq can be used to detect viruses in mammals and humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver / virology
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • RNA, Viral / analysis*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*
  • Virus Diseases / virology
  • Viruses / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral