Countering future pandemics through data analysis of recombinant virus genomes. A study published in the journal Nature Communications presents the promising results of RecombinHunt, a new data-driven method developed by the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of the Politecnico di Milano and from theUniversity of Milanable to recognize, with high precision and computational efficiency, recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes with one or two breakpoints.
Recombination, the assembly of two or more viral genomes to form a new genome, is an efficient molecular mechanism for the evolution and adaptation of viruses.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, several methods have been proposed to detect recombinant genomes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; however, so far, none have been able to faithfully confirm the manual analyses of field experts.
ReconbinHunt shows high specificity and sensitivity, is more effective than all other methods already developed, and faithfully confirms the manual analyses of experts.
The method, developed in the context of the PRIN PNRR 2022 project SENSIBLE (Small-data Early warNing System for viral pathogens In puBLic hEalth), Furthermore also identifies recombinant viral genomes from the recent monkeypox epidemic with a high concordance with the manually curated analyses by the experts, suggesting that the approach is robust and can be applied to any epidemic or pandemic virus, constituting an important tool to counter future pandemics.
The professor Stephen Ceri notes that “The research was possible thanks to the extraordinary contribution of laboratories from all over the world, which made over 15 million viral sequences available to the international community.” The doctor Anna Bernasconihead of the SENSIBLE project, observes: “TheOur goal is to build warning tools to anticipate and counter new viral epidemics and pandemics”.
“The study demonstrates how the development of innovative and efficient computational methods allows us to appreciate more precisely and rigorously the evolution of pathogens, and the possible implications for human health.”, he adds Matthew Clareprofessor of Molecular Biology at the University of Milan and co-responsible for the SENSIBLE project.
He contributed to the study Thomas Alfonsiwho recently received a Ph.D. “cum laude” in Information Engineering, presenting this and other research.
The link to the study published in Nature Communications.
