A large team of medical scientists affiliated with a host of institutions in Nigeria and the U.S., has found that it is possible to use metagenomics to identify a host of viruses in real-world plasma samples. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes how they used the genetic sequencing technique to identify viral infections in a large number of people living in Nigeria.
. Genetic sequencing reveals more about the source of living material in the samples. Its use gained widespread notoriety during the global pandemic as a means for rapidly surveilling a pathogen.
Such an approach has been found to provide medical personal with much faster results than the traditional microbiology methods. In this new effort, the researchers tested the efficacy of using metagenomics to identify a variety of pathogens in plasma samples collected from real-world patients.
In conducting metagenomic testing on all the samples, the research team found that they were able to identify 13 viruses, including a very rare one believed to cause dicistrovirus. They named it human blood-associated dicistrovirus 2 . The team also found that the pegivirus C was common in people that were also infected with Lassa fever and that its presence in such samples tended to go along with smaller viral loads.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gabon finalises first debt-for-nature swap in Africa\n\t\t\tExpert insights, analysis and smart data help you cut through the noise to spot trends,\n\t\t\trisks and opportunities.\n\t\t\n\t\tJoin over 300,000 Finance professionals who already subscribe to the FT.
Read more »
The pub letting punters reserve a space in the sun using a beach towelThey said they wanted to 'bring that holiday feel' to the beer garden
Read more »
Woman, 22, denies using poison for home abortion during Covid lockdownShe faces two charges of child destruction and procuring her own miscarriage.
Read more »