Gene expression signatures diagnose influenza and other symptomatic respiratory viral infections in humans.
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a common reason for seeking medical attention, and the threat of pandemic influenza will likely add to these numbers. Using human viral challenge studies with live rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza A, we developed peripheral blood gene expression signatures that distinguish individuals with symptomatic ARIs from uninfected individuals with >95% accuracy. We validated this "acute respiratory viral" signature-encompassing genes with a known role in host defense against viral infections-across each viral challenge. We also validated the signature in an independently acquired data set for influenza A and classified infected individuals from healthy controls with 100% accuracy. In the same data set, we could also distinguish viral from bacterial ARIs (93% accuracy). These results demonstrate that ARIs induce changes in human peripheral blood gene expression that can be used to diagnose a viral etiology of respiratory infection and triage symptomatic individuals.
Zaas
Aimee K
AK
Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Chen
Minhua
M
Varkey
Jay
J
Veldman
Timothy
T
Hero
Alfred O
AO
Lucas
Joseph
J
Huang
Yongsheng
Y
Turner
Ronald
R
Gilbert
Anthony
A
Lambkin-Williams
Robert
R
Øien
N Christine
NC
Nicholson
Bradly
B
Kingsmore
Stephen
S
Carin
Lawrence
L
Woods
Christopher W
CW
Ginsburg
Geoffrey S
GS
D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000502:physiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena