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Host transcriptional signatures as predictive markers of infection in children
Asuncion Mejias1, Shira Cohen, Rebecca Glowinski
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Insights
Analyzing host gene expression in children offers a new way to diagnose infections. Transcriptome analysis of blood and mucosal samples can identify pathogen-specific signatures for better diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Molecular diagnostics
- Host-pathogen interactions
Background:
- Standard pathogen detection methods have limitations.
- Host transcriptional response analysis is an emerging diagnostic strategy.
- RNA profiles can reveal pathogen-specific biosignatures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility of blood and mucosal transcriptome analysis for diagnosing and managing pediatric infections.
- To highlight the potential of host RNA profiles in clinical settings.
- To discuss applications in understanding disease pathogenesis and severity.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on host transcriptional response in children with infections.
- Analysis of blood and mucosal transcriptome data.
- Correlation of RNA biosignatures with clinical data.
Main Results:
- Transcriptome analysis can identify pathogen-specific RNA signatures.
- These signatures aid in diagnosing tuberculosis, viral infections, and pneumonia.
- Host RNA profiles help understand disease pathogenesis (e.g., congenital CMV) and classify severity (e.g., RSV).
Conclusions:
- Host transcriptome analysis is a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing pediatric infectious diseases.
- It offers an alternative to direct pathogen detection, especially when current methods are inadequate.
- This approach enhances understanding of host-pathogen interactions and disease classification.
Purpose Of Review:
Analyses of the host transcriptional response to infection has proved to be an alternative diagnostic strategy to standard direct pathogen detection. This review summarizes the value of applying blood and mucosal transcriptome analyses for the diagnosis and management of children with viral and bacterial infections.
Recent Findings:
Over the years, studies have validated the concept that RNA transcriptional profiles derived from children with infectious diseases carry a pathogen-specific biosignature that can be qualitatively and quantitively measured. These biosignatures can be translated into a biologically meaningful context to improve patient diagnosis, as seen in children with tuberculosis, rhinovirus infections, febrile infants and children with pneumonia; understand disease pathogenesis (i.e. congenital CMV) and objectively classify patients according to clinical severity (i.e. respiratory syncytial virus).
Summary:
The global assessment of host RNA transcriptional immune responses has improved our understanding of the host-pathogen interactions in the clinical setting. It has shown the potential to be used in clinical situations wherein our current diagnostic tools are inadequate, guiding the diagnosis and classification of children with infectious diseases.
