Targeted Resequencing to Monitor Genetic Drift of Filovirus Species and Guide Medical Countermeasures in Remote Affected Areas

摘要

In December of 2017 in Uganda, a filovirus related to Ebola called Marburg was detected and successfully contained after only weeks because of the expeditious use of laboratory testing to identify the infectious agent. This event highlights the ongoing duration of the filovirus threat and the life-saving benefits that medical diagnostics can provide. Most detection assays for emerging viruses emphasize simple detection rather than reporting of information on the genomic sequence of the infectious agent. However, the simple detection alone is insufficient to monitor genetic drift and predict which strain of virus is poised to spread, as is done routinely with the seasonal flu. We have designed and tested a filovirus Resequencing Microarray Assay (FiloRMA) system capable of determining the sequence of the crucial genes of the filovirus genome in a ～12 hr. protocol that can be adapted easily for use in remote affected areas.