title: Identification of microRNAs in Throat Swab as the Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Influenza.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza is a serious worldwide disease that captures global attention in the past few years after outbreaks. The recent discoveries of microRNA (miRNA) and its unique expression profile in influenza patients have offered a new method for early influenza diagnosis. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of miRNAs for the diagnosis of influenza.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen selected miRNAs were investigated with the hosts' throat swabs (25 H1N1, 20 H3N2, 20 influenza B and 21 healthy controls) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using U6 snRNA as endogenous control for normalization, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve/Area under curve (AUC) for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-29a-3p, miR-30c-5p, miR-34c-3p and miR-181a-5p are useful biomarkers for influenza A detection; and miR-30c-5p, miR-34b-5p, miR-205-5p and miR-449b-5p for influenza B detection. Also, use of both miR-30c-5p and miR-34c-3p (AUC=0.879); and miR-30c-5p and miR-449b-5p (AUC=0.901) are better than using one miRNA to confirm influenza A and influenza B infection, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given its simplicity, non-invasiveness and specificity, we found that the throat swab-derived miRNAs miR-29a-3p, miR-30c-5p, miR-34b-5p, miR-34c-3p, miR-181a-5p, miR-205-5p and miR-449b-5p are a useful tool for influenza diagnosis on influenza A and B.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Jianan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: 3. Biochemistry Programme, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Jacky Fong Chuen
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.affiliation: 4. Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Chunxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Chunzhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: 5. Shenzhen Key Lab of Health Science and Technology, Division of Life Sciences & Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: 6. College of Optoelectronics Engineering, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems, Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: 3. Biochemistry Programme, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Siu Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; 2. Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: RT-qPCR; biomarkers.; influenza; miRNA; throat swab