Final Report Summary - PATHOVIROME (Viral metagenomics of human pathologies with unknown etiology)
The PathoVirome project is an exploratory project whose objective is a better knowledge of viral communities associated with humans (human virome) in pathological and non-pathological conditions. Knowledge on indigenous viral communities is a baseline to compare with in order to uncover the changes underwent in case of disease. This project uses cutting edge technologies in the domain of ecology, virology and bioinformatics, all of them combined for a better understanding of what contributes to the maintain of human health.
During the 4 years of this project, we sequenced and analyzed more than 200 samples from healthy and diseased individuals. For instance, we described the virome of healthy blood donors and discovered a new virus called Giant-Blood Marseillevirus (GBM). An epidemiological survey using molecular and serological tools showed that GBM infection in the general population was not rare and could be transmitted by blood transfusion. Although probably a- or pauci-symptomatic in individuals with a functional or mature immune system, we further evidenced that GBM may cause adenitis in case of primoinfection during early childhood.
This Starting Grant from the European Research Council allowed the development of a young research group led by the Dr. Christelle Desnues (www.pathovirome.com) which is implemented in the URMITE laboratory, Marseille. The objectives of the PathoVirome project have been successfully fulfilled as the results generated during the course of the project have already been released in 10 articles published in high ranked journals and further largely diffused in generalist and specialized media (Science News, Nature News, ASM...). A patent depot is on going and technological transfer is already initiated through collaboration with industries. Finally, in 2013, the prestigious Sanofi-Pasteur Prize for Biomedical Researches has been awarded to Dr. Desnues and her group in recognition of their work on viral communities associated with humans.
During the 4 years of this project, we sequenced and analyzed more than 200 samples from healthy and diseased individuals. For instance, we described the virome of healthy blood donors and discovered a new virus called Giant-Blood Marseillevirus (GBM). An epidemiological survey using molecular and serological tools showed that GBM infection in the general population was not rare and could be transmitted by blood transfusion. Although probably a- or pauci-symptomatic in individuals with a functional or mature immune system, we further evidenced that GBM may cause adenitis in case of primoinfection during early childhood.
This Starting Grant from the European Research Council allowed the development of a young research group led by the Dr. Christelle Desnues (www.pathovirome.com) which is implemented in the URMITE laboratory, Marseille. The objectives of the PathoVirome project have been successfully fulfilled as the results generated during the course of the project have already been released in 10 articles published in high ranked journals and further largely diffused in generalist and specialized media (Science News, Nature News, ASM...). A patent depot is on going and technological transfer is already initiated through collaboration with industries. Finally, in 2013, the prestigious Sanofi-Pasteur Prize for Biomedical Researches has been awarded to Dr. Desnues and her group in recognition of their work on viral communities associated with humans.