Scientists Shaken Up By Discovery of New Human Virus in Old Blood Samples

While the world of medical science is exceptionally sophisticated, every so often a virus will emerge that wreaks health havoc. In the 70s and 80s this exact scenario occurred when thousands of people across the globe were infected with HIV and Hep C diffused as a result of blood transfusions. After the crisis screening processes became markedly more stringent, with scientists coming up with advanced new ways to detect transfusion-transmissible agents. Using this technology researchers have now managed to locate a brand new risk. The agent has been named human hepegivirus 1 (HHpgV-1) and is passed on by blood to blood contact.

The research was conducted by a team of Columbia University scientists who have since published their findings in mBio journal. Using sensitive sequencing techniques they actively searched for changes in the viromes of blood transfusion recipients. They drew on samples from 44 participants who has agreed to take part in a transfusion-transmitted virus study between 1974 and 1980. In a scientific twist, the old samples led to some highly unexpected results.

“I thought if I want to know whatever is circulating and unknown these are the best samples,” says Amit Kapoor, team leader and virologist at Columbia University.

A virus from a bygone decade

The sequences detected millions of reads. After meticulously trawling through the results the scientists identified two individuals whose post transfusion samples appeared to be infected with a new virus. Further investigation indicated that the virus belonged to the Hep C family, as well as the human pegivirus line.  Interestingly, Hep C causes cancer and liver disease while human pegivirus contains proteins that actively block HIV replication.

While the virus has not yet been associated with disease and is not flagged as a highly dangerous agent, the discovery does illustrate the importance of continual research in the medical sphere. Further studies are already underway to delve deeper into its potential role in the development of disease, with tighter blood screening processes also on the horizon.  

“Anelloviruses are probably the most common human virus,” notes Eric Delwart, a virologist at the University of California and postdoctoral adviser to Kapoor. “They’re very understudied.”

For further insight into virus related research, ‘Monitoring BK Virus in Kidney Transplant Patients’ looks at a new benchtop molecular analyser that allows renal transplant centres to monitor urine and serum BK viral loads. The in-house system is a key element in earlier diagnosis and management of BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in renal transplant recipients.