Characterizing SARS-CoV-2 Transcription of Subgenomic and Genomic RNAs During Early Human Infection Using Multiplexed Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissionsoup.com..

BACKGROUND: Control of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission requires understanding SARS-CoV-2 replication dynamics.

METHODS: We developed a multiplexed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay to quantify SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs), which are only produced during active viral replication, and discriminate them from genomic RNAs (gRNAs). We applied the assay to specimens from 144 people with single nasopharyngeal samples and 27 people with >1 sample. Results were compared to quantitative PCR (qPCR) and viral culture.

RESULTS: sgRNAs were quantifiable across a range of qPCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and correlated with Ct values. The ratio sgRNA:gRNA was stable across a wide range of Ct values, whereas adjusted amounts of N sgRNA to a human housekeeping gene declined with higher Ct values. Adjusted sgRNA and gRNA amounts were quantifiable in culture-negative samples, although levels were significantly lower than in culture-positive samples. Daily testing of 6 persons revealed that sgRNA is concordant with culture results during the first week of infection but may be discordant with culture later in infection. sgRNA:gRNA is constant during infection despite changes in viral culture.

CONCLUSIONS: Ct values from qPCR correlate with active viral replication. More work is needed to understand why some cultures are negative despite presence of sgRNA.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:227

Enthalten in:

The Journal of infectious diseases - 227(2023), 8 vom: 18. Apr., Seite 981-992

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Hwang, Hyon S [VerfasserIn]
Lo, Che-Min [VerfasserIn]
Murphy, Michael [VerfasserIn]
Grudda, Tanner [VerfasserIn]
Gallagher, Nicholas [VerfasserIn]
Luo, Chun Huai [VerfasserIn]
Robinson, Matthew L [VerfasserIn]
Mirza, Agha [VerfasserIn]
Conte, Madison [VerfasserIn]
Conte, Abigail [VerfasserIn]
Zhou, Ruifeng [VerfasserIn]
Vergara, Candelaria [VerfasserIn]
Brooke, Christopher B [VerfasserIn]
Pekosz, Andrew [VerfasserIn]
Mostafa, Heba H [VerfasserIn]
Manabe, Yukari C [VerfasserIn]
Thio, Chloe L [VerfasserIn]
Balagopal, Ashwin [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Droplet digital PCR
Genomic RNA
Journal Article
Multiplex ddPCR
RNA, Viral
Replication dynamics
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
SARS-CoV-2
Subgenomic RNA

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 30.06.2023

Date Revised 13.12.2023

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1093/infdis/jiac472

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM34980818X