Uncovering the infectious causes of undiagnosed severe acute respiratory infections in New Zealand
We used total RNA sequencing (metatranscriptomics) to characterize the respiratory infectome in patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in New Zealand. This study aimed to identify the full spectrum of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens present in undiagnosed cases and to explore associations between microbial composition and demographic factors such as age, sex, and DHB region. By integrating metatranscriptomic data, this work provides a comprehensive view of the active respiratory infectome and its potential role in disease severity.