Interlaboratory Comparison Study on Ribodepleted Total RNA High-Throughput Sequencing for Plant Virus Diagnostics and Bioinformatic Competence

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies and bioinformatic analyses are of growing interest to be used as a routine diagnostic tool in the field of plant viruses. The reliability of HTS workflows from sample preparation to data analysis and results interpretation for plant virus detection and identification must be evaluated (verified and validated) to approve this tool for diagnostics. Many different extraction methods, library preparation protocols, and sequence and bioinformatic pipelines are available for virus sequence detection. To assess the performance of plant virology diagnostic laboratories in using the HTS of ribosomal RNA depleted total RNA (ribodepleted totRNA) as a diagnostic tool, we carried out an interlaboratory comparison study in which eight participants were required to use the same samples, (RNA) extraction kit, ribosomal RNA depletion kit, and commercial sequencing provider, but also their own bioinformatics pipeline, for analysis. The accuracy of virus detection ranged from 65% to 100%. The false-positive detection rate was very low and was related to the misinterpretation of results as well as to possible cross-contaminations in the lab or sequencing provider. The bioinformatic pipeline used by each laboratory influenced the correct detection of the viruses of this study. The main difficulty was the detection of a novel virus as its sequence was not available in a publicly accessible database at the time. The raw data were reanalysed using Virtool to assess its ability for virus detection. All virus sequences were detected using Virtool in the different pools. This study revealed that the ribodepletion target enrichment for sample preparation is a reliable approach for the detection of plant viruses with different genomes. A significant level of virology expertise is needed to correctly interpret the results. It is also important to improve and complete the reference data

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Current Perspectives on High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) for Adventitious Virus Detection: Upstream Sample Processing and Library Preparation

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v10100566 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 566 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Siemon Ng ◽

Cassandra Braxton ◽

Marc Eloit ◽

Szi Feng ◽

Romain Fragnoud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sample Preparation ◽

Nucleic Acids ◽

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Control Measures ◽

Acid Extraction ◽

Library Preparation ◽

Sample Processing

A key step for broad viral detection using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) is optimizing the sample preparation strategy for extracting viral-specific nucleic acids since viral genomes are diverse: They can be single-stranded or double-stranded RNA or DNA, and can vary from a few thousand bases to over millions of bases, which might introduce biases during nucleic acid extraction. In addition, viral particles can be enveloped or non-enveloped with variable resistance to pre-treatment, which may influence their susceptibility to extraction procedures. Since the identity of the potential adventitious agents is unknown prior to their detection, efficient sample preparation should be unbiased toward all different viral types in order to maximize the probability of detecting any potential adventitious viruses using HTS. Furthermore, the quality assessment of each step for sample processing is also a critical but challenging aspect. This paper presents our current perspectives for optimizing upstream sample processing and library preparation as part of the discussion in the Advanced Virus Detection Technologies Interest group (AVDTIG). The topics include: Use of nuclease treatment to enrich for encapsidated nucleic acids, techniques for amplifying low amounts of virus nucleic acids, selection of different extraction methods, relevant controls, the use of spike recovery experiments, and quality control measures during library preparation.

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High Throughput Sequencing For Plant Virus Detection and Discovery

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-07-18-0257-rvw ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 109 (5) ◽

pp. 716-725 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

D. E. V. Villamor ◽

T. Ho ◽

M. Al Rwahnih ◽

R. R. Martin ◽

I. E. Tzanetakis

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

Plant Virus ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

Virus Discovery ◽

Plant Virus Detection ◽

Virus Biology ◽

Disease Causality

Over the last decade, virologists have discovered an unprecedented number of viruses using high throughput sequencing (HTS), which led to the advancement of our knowledge on the diversity of viruses in nature, particularly unraveling the virome of many agricultural crops. However, these new virus discoveries have often widened the gaps in our understanding of virus biology; the forefront of which is the actual role of a new virus in disease, if any. Yet, when used critically in etiological studies, HTS is a powerful tool to establish disease causality between the virus and its host. Conversely, with globalization, movement of plant material is increasingly more common and often a point of dispute between countries. HTS could potentially resolve these issues given its capacity to detect and discover. Although many pipelines are available for plant virus discovery, all share a common backbone. A description of the process of plant virus detection and discovery from HTS data are presented, providing a summary of the different pipelines available for scientists’ utility in their research.

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Virus Detection by High-Throughput Sequencing of Small RNAs: Large-Scale Performance Testing of Sequence Analysis Strategies

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-02-18-0067-r ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 109 (3) ◽

pp. 488-497 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Sebastien Massart ◽

Michela Chiumenti ◽

Kris De Jonghe ◽

Rachel Glover ◽

Annelies Haegeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

Large Scale ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Performance Test ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Performance Testing ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Reference Sequence ◽

Bioinformatics Pipeline ◽

Double Blind

Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing (HTS), also called next-generation sequencing (NGS), technologies and bioinformatics have drastically changed research on viral pathogens and spurred growing interest in the field of virus diagnostics. However, the reliability of HTS-based virus detection protocols must be evaluated before adopting them for diagnostics. Many different bioinformatics algorithms aimed at detecting viruses in HTS data have been reported but little attention has been paid thus far to their sensitivity and reliability for diagnostic purposes. Therefore, we compared the ability of 21 plant virology laboratories, each employing a different bioinformatics pipeline, to detect 12 plant viruses through a double-blind large-scale performance test using 10 datasets of 21- to 24-nucleotide small RNA (sRNA) sequences from three different infected plants. The sensitivity of virus detection ranged between 35 and 100% among participants, with a marked negative effect when sequence depth decreased. The false-positive detection rate was very low and mainly related to the identification of host genome-integrated viral sequences or misinterpretation of the results. Reproducibility was high (91.6%). This work revealed the key influence of bioinformatics strategies for the sensitive detection of viruses in HTS sRNA datasets and, more specifically (i) the difficulty in detecting viral agents when they are novel or their sRNA abundance is low, (ii) the influence of key parameters at both assembly and annotation steps, (iii) the importance of completeness of reference sequence databases, and (iv) the significant level of scientific expertise needed when interpreting pipeline results. Overall, this work underlines key parameters and proposes recommendations for reliable sRNA-based detection of known and unknown viruses.

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A Multicenter Study To Evaluate the Performance of High-Throughput Sequencing for Virus Detection

mSphere ◽

10.1128/msphere.00307-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Arifa S. Khan ◽

Siemon H. S. Ng ◽

Olivier Vandeputte ◽

Aisha Aljanahi ◽

Avisek Deyati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sample Preparation ◽

Cell Line ◽

High Throughput ◽

Future Development ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Collaborative Study ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Biological Products ◽

Reference Virus ◽

Complex Technology

ABSTRACT Recent high-throughput sequencing (HTS) investigations have resulted in unexpected discoveries of known and novel viruses in a variety of sample types, including research materials, clinical materials, and biological products. Therefore, HTS can be a powerful tool for supplementing current methods for demonstrating the absence of adventitious or unwanted viruses in biological products, particularly when using a new cell line. However, HTS is a complex technology with different platforms, which needs standardization for evaluation of biologics. This collaborative study was undertaken to investigate detection of different virus types using two different HTS platforms. The results of the independently performed studies demonstrated a similar sensitivity of virus detection, regardless of the different sample preparation and processing procedures and bioinformatic analyses done in the three laboratories. Comparable HTS detection of different virus types supports future development of reference virus materials for standardization and validation of different HTS platforms. The capability of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) for detection of known and unknown viruses makes it a powerful tool for broad microbial investigations, such as evaluation of novel cell substrates that may be used for the development of new biological products. However, like any new assay, regulatory applications of HTS need method standardization. Therefore, our three laboratories initiated a study to evaluate performance of HTS for potential detection of viral adventitious agents by spiking model viruses in different cellular matrices to mimic putative materials for manufacturing of biologics. Four model viruses were selected based upon different physical and biochemical properties and commercial availability: human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and human reovirus (REO). Additionally, porcine circovirus (PCV) was tested by one laboratory. Independent samples were prepared for HTS by spiking intact viruses or extracted viral nucleic acids, singly or mixed, into different HeLa cell matrices (resuspended whole cells, cell lysate, or total cellular RNA). Data were obtained using different sequencing platforms (Roche 454, Illumina HiSeq1500 or HiSeq2500). Bioinformatic analyses were performed independently by each laboratory using available tools, pipelines, and databases. The results showed that comparable virus detection was obtained in the three laboratories regardless of sample processing, library preparation, sequencing platform, and bioinformatic analysis: between 0.1 and 3 viral genome copies per cell were detected for all of the model viruses used. This study highlights the potential for using HTS for sensitive detection of adventitious viruses in complex biological samples containing cellular background. IMPORTANCE Recent high-throughput sequencing (HTS) investigations have resulted in unexpected discoveries of known and novel viruses in a variety of sample types, including research materials, clinical materials, and biological products. Therefore, HTS can be a powerful tool for supplementing current methods for demonstrating the absence of adventitious or unwanted viruses in biological products, particularly when using a new cell line. However, HTS is a complex technology with different platforms, which needs standardization for evaluation of biologics. This collaborative study was undertaken to investigate detection of different virus types using two different HTS platforms. The results of the independently performed studies demonstrated a similar sensitivity of virus detection, regardless of the different sample preparation and processing procedures and bioinformatic analyses done in the three laboratories. Comparable HTS detection of different virus types supports future development of reference virus materials for standardization and validation of different HTS platforms.

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A Primer on the Analysis of High-Throughput Sequencing Data for Detection of Plant Viruses

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040841 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 841

Author(s):

Denis Kutnjak ◽

Lucie Tamisier ◽

Ian Adams ◽

Neil Boonham ◽

Thierry Candresse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

High Throughput ◽

Plant Virus ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Acid Extraction ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Bioinformatic Tools ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Plant Virus Detection

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have become indispensable tools assisting plant virus diagnostics and research thanks to their ability to detect any plant virus in a sample without prior knowledge. As HTS technologies are heavily relying on bioinformatics analysis of the huge amount of generated sequences, it is of utmost importance that researchers can rely on efficient and reliable bioinformatic tools and can understand the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of the tools used. Here, we present a critical overview of the steps involved in HTS as employed for plant virus detection and virome characterization. We start from sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction as appropriate to the chosen HTS strategy, which is followed by basic data analysis requirements, an extensive overview of the in-depth data processing options, and taxonomic classification of viral sequences detected. By presenting the bioinformatic tools and a detailed overview of the consecutive steps that can be used to implement a well-structured HTS data analysis in an easy and accessible way, this paper is targeted at both beginners and expert scientists engaging in HTS plant virome projects.

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Application of Oxford Nanopore Technology to Plant Virus Detection

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13081424 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1424

Author(s):

Lia W. Liefting ◽

David W. Waite ◽

Jeremy R. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Plant Virus ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Plant Virus Detection ◽

Sequencing Technologies ◽

Oxford Nanopore ◽

Virus Diagnostics ◽

Post Entry ◽

Read Accuracy

The adoption of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing as a tool in plant virology has been relatively slow despite its promise in more recent years to yield large quantities of long nucleotide sequences in real time without the need for prior amplification. The portability of the MinION and Flongle platforms combined with lowering costs and continued improvements in read accuracy make ONT an attractive method for both low- and high-scale virus diagnostics. Here, we provide a detailed step-by-step protocol using the ONT Flongle platform that we have developed for the routine application on a range of symptomatic post-entry quarantine and domestic surveillance plant samples. The aim of this methods paper is to highlight ONT’s feasibility as a valuable component to the diagnostician’s toolkit and to hopefully stimulate other laboratories towards the eventual goal of integrating high-throughput sequencing technologies as validated plant virus diagnostic methods in their own right.

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Comparison of high throughput sequencing to standard protocols for virus detection in berry crops

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-05-21-0949-re ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dan Edward Veloso Villamor ◽

Karen E Keller ◽

Robert Martin ◽

Ioannis Emmanouil Tzanetakis

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Host Interactions ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Berry Crops ◽

Sampling Times ◽

Better Than

A comprehensive study comparing virus detection between high throughput sequencing (HTS) and standard protocols in 30 berry selections (12 Fragaria, 10 Vaccinium and 8 Rubus) with known virus profiles was completed. The study examined temporal detection of viruses at four sampling times encompassing two growing seasons. Within the standard protocols, RT-PCR proved better than biological indexing. Detection of known viruses by HTS and RT-PCR nearly mirrored each other. HTS provided superior detection compared to RT-PCR on a wide spectrum of virus variants and discovery of novel viruses. More importantly, in most cases where the two protocols showed parallel virus detection, 11 viruses in 16 berry selections were not consistently detected by both methods at all sampling points. Based on these data we propose a four sampling times/two-year testing requirement for berry and potentially other crops to ensure that no virus remains undetected independent of titer, distribution or other virus/virus or virus/host interactions.

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High-Throughput Sequencing Facilitates Discovery of New Plant Viruses in Poland

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9070820 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 820

Author(s):

Julia Minicka ◽

Aleksandra Zarzyńska-Nowak ◽

Daria Budzyńska ◽

Natasza Borodynko-Filas ◽

Beata Hasiów-Jaroszewska

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Yellow Mosaic Virus ◽

Virus Species ◽

Phylogenetic Groups ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Detection And Identification ◽

New Finding ◽

Recent Occurrence

Viruses cause epidemics on all major crops of agronomic importance, and a timely and accurate identification is essential for control. High throughput sequencing (HTS) is a technology that allows the identification of all viruses without prior knowledge on the targeted pathogens. In this paper, we used HTS technique for the detection and identification of different viral species occurring in single and mixed infections in plants in Poland. We analysed various host plants representing different families. Within the 20 tested samples, we identified a total of 13 different virus species, including those whose presence has not been reported in Poland before: clover yellow mosaic virus (ClYMV) and melandrium yellow fleck virus (MYFV). Due to this new finding, the obtained sequences were compared with others retrieved from GenBank. In addition, cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) was also detected, and due to the recent occurrence of this virus in Poland, a phylogenetic analysis of these new isolates was performed. The analysis revealed that CABYV population is highly diverse and the Polish isolates of CABYV belong to two different phylogenetic groups. Our results showed that HTS-based technology is a valuable diagnostic tool for the identification of different virus species originating from variable hosts, and can provide rapid information about the spectrum of plant viruses previously not detected in a region.

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