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An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue

Patrick F Sullivan1, Tobias Allander, Fredrik Lysholm

  • 1Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. pfsulliv@med.unc.edu

BMC Microbiology
|January 4, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study investigated infectious agents in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients. While no novel viruses were found, a higher prevalence of GB virus C viremia was observed in affected individuals, warranting further research.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious disease
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, idiopathic condition with suspected infectious or immune origins.
  • An unbiased metagenomic approach was employed to identify infectious agents in CFS patients.
  • Serum samples were collected from 45 CFS cases and their unaffected monozygotic co-twin controls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify known or novel infectious agents in the serum of individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome or idiopathic chronic fatigue.
  • To investigate potential viral etiologies of CFS using a comprehensive metagenomic analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Unbiased metagenomic sequencing of serum samples from CFS cases and controls.
  • Comparative analysis to identify differential presence of viral signatures.
  • Statistical analysis to determine the significance of observed viral associations.

Main Results:

  • No novel DNA or RNA viral signatures were definitively identified in CFS patients.
  • GB virus C (GBV-C) viremia was detected in 8.9% of affected twins versus 0% of unaffected twins (p = 0.019).
  • One affected twin showed previously undetected hepatitis C viremia; further confirmation of GBV-C excess in CFS is needed.

Conclusions:

  • Serum viremia detectable by metagenomics was not robustly associated with chronic, impairing fatigue.
  • The observed excess of GB virus C viremia in CFS cases requires further investigation and validation.
  • The etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome remains multifactorial, with current findings not strongly supporting viremia as a primary driver.

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