Correlation Of Pcr Ct Values With Symptom Onset Across Diagnostic Platforms For Sars-Cov-2

Introduction/Objective Following the definition of SARS-CoV2 outbreak as a pandemic by WHO, FDA gave EUA approval to the CDC real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and soon to other vendors to increase test availability. Most of testing platforms are PCR based, which test for multiple gene targets. We aimed to compare distribution of crossing threshold (cT) values of Diasorin (DIA), NeuMoDX (NDX) and Cepheid GenXpert (GX) for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and assess performance of individual gene targets within the assays. We also correlated cT values with time from symptom onset. Methods/Case Report Retrospective review of medical and laboratory records of patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 between 08/01/2020 and 10/10/2020 on DIA, NDX, and GX platforms. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) We included 212 patients in our study. Days since symptom onset included 1 to 16 days. For DIA, mean Ct values for 46 symptomatic patients were 21.75 (S gene) and 22.74 (ORF1 gene); whereas 23.49 (S gene) and 25.49 (ORF1 gene) for 12 asymptomatic patients. Similarly, on NDX mean was 22.21 (N gene) and 23.13 (NSP2 gene) for 69 symptomatic, though 28.09 (N gene) and 28.61 (NSP2 gene) for 35 asymptomatic patients. GX manifested mean Ct value of 27.13 (E gene) and 31.22 (N2 gene) for 19 symptomatic; while 33.85 (E gene) and 36.42 (N2 gene) for 31 asymptomatic patients. Correlation coefficient for cT values versus days since symptom onset are DIA (r2 0.19), NDX (r2 0.22), and GX (r2 0.02). Conclusion The difference in cT values was statistically significant for symptomatic versus asymptomatic patients. There was positive correlation between days since symptom onset and cT values for DIA and NDX but not for GX, which may be due to difference in population tested in these platforms. These observations may be used to predict viral load and thus infectivity of patients who test positive for SARS-CoV2.

Identification of Quinolinones as Antivirals Against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging alphavirus that can cause encephalitis resulting in severe human morbidity and mortality. Using a high-throughput cell-based screen, we identified a quinolinone compound that protected against VEEV-induced cytopathic effects. Analysis of viral replication in cells identified several quinolinone compounds with potent inhibitory activity against vaccine and virulent strains of VEEV. These quinolinones also displayed inhibitory activity against additional alphaviruses such as Mayaro virus and Ross River virus, although the potency was greatly reduced. Time of addition studies indicated that these compounds inhibit the early-to-mid stage of viral replication. Deep sequencing and reverse genetics studies identified two unique resistance mutations in the nsP2 gene (Y102S/C; stalk domain) that endowed VEEV resistance to this chemical series. Moreover, introduction of a K102Y mutation into the nsP2 gene enhanced the sensitivity of CHIKV to this chemical series. Computational modeling of CHIKV and VEEV nsP2 identified a highly probable docking alignment for the quinolinone compounds that require a tyrosine residue at position 102 within the helicase stalk domain. These studies identified a class of compounds with antiviral activity against VEEV and other alphaviruses, and provide further evidence that therapeutics targeting nsP2 may be useful against alphavirus infection.

Molecular Characterization of the Nsp2 and ORF5 (ORF5a) Genes of PRRSV Strains in Nine Provinces of China During 2016–2018

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes a highly contagious disease and brings huge economic losses to commercial pork production worldwide. PRRSV causes severe reproductive failure in sows and respiratory distress in piglets. To trace the evolution of PRRSV in pigs with respiratory diseases in some regions of China, 112 samples were collected from nine provinces in China during 2016–2018. All samples were detected by RT-PCR and analyzed by the Nsp2/ORF5 (ORF5a)-genes-phylogeny. Sequence analysis and recombination analysis were conducted on the Nsp2/ORF5 (ORF5a) genes of the identified strain in the study. The RT-PCR result shown that the positive rate of PRRSV was 50.89% (57/112). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the identified PRRSV strains were all NA genotype and belonged to lineage 1, 3, and 8. The Nsp2 gene of identified PRRSV strains exhibited nucleotide homologies of 53.0 ~ 99.8%, and amino acid homologies of 46.8 ~ 99.7%. The ORF5 gene of identified PRRSV strains exhibited nucleotide homologies of 82.4 ~ 100%, and amino acid homologies of 79.6 ~ 100%. Sequence analysis revealed that a discontinuous 30-amino-acid deletion (positions 481 and 533–561) and a 131-amino-acid discontinuity deletion (positions 323–433, 481, and 533–551) in Nsp2 of PPRSV isolates; all identified strains in this study may be wild strains, and most identified strains may be highly virulent strains. Sequence analysis of ORF5 and ORF5a revealed that the mutation sites of GP5 were mainly concentrated in the signal peptide and epitopes region, while the mutation sites of ORF5a were mainly concentrated in the transmembrane and the intramembrane region. The recombination analysis indicated that there may be multiple recombination regions in identified strains, and the recombination pattern was more complex. This study showed that the prevalent PRRSV strain in some regions of China was still HP-PRRSV, while NADC30 strain also occupied a certain proportion; different types of PRRSV strains showed different patterns and variation in China. This study suggested that the monitoring of PRRSV prevalence and genetic variation should be further strengthened.

Molecular Epidemiology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Strains Circulating in Romania during the First Months of the Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The spread of SARS-CoV-2 generated an unprecedented global public health crisis. Soon after Asia, Europe was seriously affected. Many countries, including Romania, adopted lockdown measures to limit the outbreak. AIM: We performed a molecular epidemiology analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral strains circulating in Romania during the first two months of the epidemic in order to detect mutation profiles and phylogenetic relatedness. METHODS: Respiratory samples were directly used for shotgun sequencing. RESULTS: All Romanian sequences belonged to lineage B, with a different subtype distribution between northern and southern regions (subtype B.1.5 and B.1.1). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the Romanian epidemic started with multiple introduction events from other European countries followed by local transmission. Phylogenetic links between northern Romania and Spain, Austria, Scotland and Russia were observed, as well as between southern Romania and Switzerland, Italy, France and Turkey. One viral strain presented a previously unreported mutation in the Nsp2 gene, namely K489E. Epidemiologically-defined clusters displayed specific mutations, suggesting molecular signatures for strains coming from areas that were isolated during the lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Romanian epidemic was initiated by multiple introductions from European countries followed by local transmissions. Different subtype distribution between northern and southern Romania was observed after two months of the pandemic.

Multiplex RT-PCR assay to differentiate genotypes of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in swine

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically important diseases to swine industry worldwide. Due to the heterogeneity of field isolates, accurate detection of the PRRS virus is a diagnostic challenge. Recently, co-infection with NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV isolates continuously increases in many countries, resulting in a significant impact on PRRSV diagnostics and disease control on farms. To facilitate rapid diagnosis and reliable discrimination of NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV, a multiplex RT-PCR assay was established with three pairs of primers targeting highly conservative regions of nsp2 gene with predicted multiplex RT-PCR products of 364 bp, 161 bp and 259 bp, respectively. The primer pairs were optimized to be highly specific for PRRSV genotypes and were able to detect the target gene at the limit of 102 copies/μL for each gene. Clinical samples were used to evaluate this multiplex RT-PCR in parallel with a commercial real-time RT-PCR kit. Results showed over 95.2% (20/21 samples) agreement between the mRT-PCR and the real-time RT-PCR kit. Hence, it indicated that this multiplex RT-PCR could be useful for rapid and deferential diagnosis of NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV in swine farms.

Comparative analysis of the Rotarix™ vaccine strain and G1P[8] rotaviruses detected before and after vaccine introduction in Belgium

G1P[8] rotaviruses are responsible for the majority of human rotavirus infections worldwide. The effect of universal mass vaccination with rotavirus vaccines on circulating G1P[8] rotaviruses is still poorly understood. Therefore we analyzed the complete genomes of the Rotarix™ vaccine strain, and 70 G1P[8] rotaviruses, detected between 1999 and 2010 in Belgium (36 before and 34 after vaccine introduction) to investigate the impact of rotavirus vaccine introduction on circulating G1P[8] strains. All rotaviruses possessed a complete Wa-like genotype constellation, but frequent intra-genogroup reassortments were observed as well as multiple different cluster constellations circulating in a single season. In addition, identical cluster constellations were found to circulate persistently over multiple seasons. The Rotarix™ vaccine strain possessed a unique cluster constellation that was not present in currently circulating G1P[8] strains. At the nucleotide level, the VP6, VP2 and NSP2 gene segments of Rotarix™ were relatively distantly related to any Belgian G1P[8] strain, but other gene segments of Rotarix™ were found in clusters also containing circulating Belgian strains. At the amino acid level, the genetic distance between Rotarix™ and circulating Belgian strains was considerably lower, except for NSP1. When we compared the Belgian G1P[8] strains collected before and after vaccine introduction a reduction in the proportion of strains that were found in the same cluster as the Rotarix™ vaccine strain was observed for most gene segments. The reduction in the proportion of strains belonging to the same cluster may be the result of the vaccine introduction, although natural fluctuations cannot be ruled out.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Chinese Highly Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus That Has a Further Deletion in the Nsp2 Gene

Here, we report the complete genome of a Chinese highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) characterized by a further 29-amino acid (87 nucleotides) deletion in its Nsp2-coding region compared to the prototype of the HP-PRRSV JXA1 strain.

Preparation of North American Type II PRRSV Infectious Clone Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is still one of the most important infectious diseases threatening the swine industry. To construct North American type II PRRSV infectious clone containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, we amplify gfp gene, flanked by PRRSV Nsp2 gene fragments upstream and downstream, using overlap PCR method from pcDNA-EF1-GFP plasmid and FL12 plasmid containing PRRSV infectious genome as the templates. The Nsp2 fragment-flanked gfp gene was inserted into Nsp2 gene of the FL12 plasmid bySpeI andXhoI sites to generate PRRSV infectious recombinant plasmid (FL12-GFP) containing gfp gene. The recombinant PRRSV expressing GFP (PRRSV-GFP) was rescued in baby hamster kidney-21 (BHK-21) cells by transfecting PRRSV mRNA synthesizedin vitroand amplified in Marc-145 cells. The PRRSV-GFP infectivity and replication capacity were identified. Results showed that, by adopting overlap PCR strategy, the gfp gene was successfully inserted into and fused with PRRSV Nsp2 gene in the PRRSV infectious clone plasmid FL-12 to generate FL12-GFP plasmid. The recombinant PRRSV-GFP was generated through transfecting PRRSV mRNA in BHK-2 cells. Like its parental virus, the recombinant PRRSV-GFP maintains its infectivity to Marc-145 cells and porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). This study provides essential conditions for further investigation on PRRSV.

Attenuation and Immunogenicity of a Live High Pathogenic PRRSV Vaccine Candidate with a 32-Amino Acid Deletion in the nsp2 Protein

A porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) QY1 was serially passed on Marc-145 cells. Virulence of different intermediate derivatives of QY1 (P5, P60, P80, and P100) were determined. The study found that QY1 had been gradually attenuated during the in vitro process. Pathogenicity study showed that pigs inoculated with QY1 P100 and P80 did not develop any significant PRRS clinic symptoms. However, mild-to-moderate clinical signs and acute HP-PRRSV symptoms of infection were observed in pigs inoculated with QY1 P60 and P5, respectively. Furthermore, we determined the whole genome sequences of these four intermediate viruses. The results showed that after 100 passages, compared to QY1 P5, a total of 32 amino acid mutations were found. Moreover, there were one nucleotide deletion and a unique 34-amino acid deletion found at 5′UTR and in nsp2 gene during the attenuation process, respectively. Such deletions were genetically stable in vivo. Following PRRSV experimental challenge, pigs inoculated with a single dose of QY1 P100 developed no significant clinic symptoms and well tolerated lethal challenge, while QY1 P80 group still developed mild fever in the clinic trial after challenge. Thus, we concluded that QY1 P100 was a promising and highly attenuated PRRSV vaccine candidate.