Novel Clade of Human Rhinovirus, Group C, Linked to Lower Respiratory Infection

Summary:

Although rhinoviruses are most commonly associated with mild upper-respiratory-tract disease, they have also been described in association with severe acute and lower-respiratory-tract infections in children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed patients. [Lamson et al. MassTag Polymerase-Chain-Reaction Detection of Respiratory Pathogens, including a New Rhinovirus Genotype that caused Influenza-like illness in New York State during 2004-2005. JID 2006;194:1398-1402] 

During the 2004–2005 influenza season, the NYS Department of Health received 166 samples through the Influenza Sentinel Physicians Surveillance Network, a collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control. Analysis showed a high incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) that tested negative for both influenza virus A and B. Concern that a novel pathogen might be implicated led to investigation and collaboration with Columbia University. The project utilized MassTag PCR, a new multiplex diagnostic tool, which ensured comprehensive screening for a large number of identical as well as related genetic targets. This approach revealed the unexpected presence of rhinoviruses in one third of the samples, with 9 people presenting with co-infections and 4 people infected with at least three pathogens. Eight of these specimens tested positive for rhinoviruses different from any known rhinovirus. This knowledge could have improved clinical outcomes not only by providing a differential diagnosis to the viral and bacterial infectious pathogens but by facilitating a sensitive, more affordable method. 

Background:

According to the World Health Organization, ILI is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, accounting annually for ~36,000 deaths, ~150,000 hospitalizations, and up to $12 billion in direct and indirect costs. The importance of developing strategies for triage of patients with acute respiratory infection to specific treatment regimens is underscored in the context of pandemic-influenza preparedness and the limited supply of influenza antiviral drugs [Lamson et al. MassTag Polymerase-Chain-Reaction Detection of Respiratory Pathogens, including a New Rhinovirus Genotype that caused Influenza-like illness in New York State during 2004-2005. JID 2006;194:1398-1402 ]

It is now recognized that 50-85% of asthma exacerbations are due to HRV infections and wheezing illnesses in infancy are a high risk factor for developing childhood asthma. Of all types of major contributors, HRV infections exacerbate other chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease contributing to their morbidity. [Wat, D. et al. The role of respiratory viruses in cystic fibrosis. J. Cyst. Fibros. 7, 320–328 (2008).] Collectively, colds, influenza, and other upper respiratory tract infections with similar symptoms are included in the diagnosis Influenza-like illness (ILI). 

Including Picornavirus sequence detection may, therefore, improve the clinical utility of molecular respiratory panels, especially when combined with identifying high risk patients who might benefit from early treatment.

The gene structure includes a 5' non-coding region, which is followed by 4 structural proteins (VP1-4) and 7 non-structural proteins (2A-D, 3A-D) and a 3' non-coding region. 


 HRV

 

Applications:

  • Improving clinical diagnosis
  • HRV-C research
  • Public health surveillance and detection of outbreaks from influenza-like illnesses (ILI).
  • Pyrosequencing, SNP Assay and Mass Tag PCR can be used to discriminate types of strains or detect mutations that confer rersistance to antibiotics and anti-viral candidates.

Vaccine development 

Advantages:

  • Early diagnosis & treatment would reduce complications for the very young, elderly, immune compromised or for those who have pre-existing lung conditions.
  • Confirmation of circulating strain in the community can track outbreaks
  •  Accurate identification facilitates selection of appropriate antiviral agents useful in treatment and to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance 

State of Development:

Our scientists can provide the polyclonal antibody and isolated nucleic acid sequences for further research. 

Licensing Potential:

Available for license 

Patents:

WO/2008/016594 - Picornavirus and Uses Thereof 

USPTO US 2009/0275636 - Picornavirus and Uses Thereof

 

Inventors:

Thomas Briese, Ph.D.

Gustavo Palacios, Ph.D.

W. Ian Lipkin, MD

Daryl M. Lamson

Daryl M. Lamson

Research Scientist 2

Laboratory of Viral Diseases

Daryl Lamson graduated from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a BS in Medical Technology in 1997, which included a one year clinical internship at Albany Medical Center. After graduation, Mr. Lamson worked in both the Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics laboratories at Albany Medical Center, and in 2002 was recruited by the Wadsworth Center as a Research Scientist. In the Molecular Methods Development Team, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, Daryl has been a major contributor in projects to introduce and automate new technologies. He has implemented robotic liquid handling systems, multiple new assays and detection technologies, as well as optimized and validated a liquid suspension array for the simultaneous detection of 11 respiratory viruses. Daryl has presented and co-authored more than 20 posters from the work he has performed at the Wadsworth Center,and co-authored three manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

Daryl is member of the Pan-American Society of Clinical Virology and is licensed as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist with New York State. Darylis also a technical consultant for influenza testing for the Association of Public Health Laboratories. In this capacity he performed laboratory assessments for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South America. 

 Publications:

Jacobs SE, Lamson DM, St George K, Walsh TJ. Human rhinoviruses. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 2013 Jan;26(1):135-62. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00077-12.

Lamson, Daryl, Renwick, Neil, Kapoor, Vishal, Liu, Zhiqiang, Palacios, Gustavo, Ju, Jingyue, Dean, Amy, St. George, Kirsten, Briese, Thomas and Lipkin, W. Ian.  Mass Tag Polymerase-Chain-Reaction Detection of Respiratory Pathogens, Including a New Rhinovirus Genotype That Caused Influenza-Like Illness in New York State during 2004–2005. The Journal of Infectious Diseases Society of America 2006; 194: 1398-1402 

Briese T, Renwick N, Venter M, Jarman RG, Ghosh D, Köndgen S, Shrestha SK, Hoegh AM, Casas I, Adjogoua EV, Akoua-Koffi C, Myint KS, Williams DT, Chidlow G, van den Berg R, Calvo C, Koch O, Palacios G, Kapoor V, Villari J, Dominguez SR, Holmes KV, Harnett G, Smith D, Mackenzie JS, Ellerbrok H, Schweiger B, Schønning K, Chadha MS, Leendertz FH, Mishra AC, Gibbons RV, Holmes EC, Lipkin WI. Global distribution of novel rhinovirus genotype. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jun;14(6):944-7. 

Renwick N, Schweiger B, Kapoor V, Liu Z, Villari J, Bullmann R, Miething R, Briese T, Lipkin WI. A recently identified rhinovirus genotype is associated with severe respiratory-tract infection in children in Germany. J Infect Dis. 2007 Dec 15;196(12):1754-60. 

Contact:

Robert L. Gallo
Director, Licensing and Intellectual Property
Health Research, Inc.
150 Broadway – Suite 560, Menands, New York 12204-2719 U.S.A.
Phone 518-431-1208 Fax 518-431-1234
E-mail: RLG04@healthresearch.org Website: www.healthresearch.org 

 


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