Alterations in RNA Expression Profile Following S. aureus and S. epidermidis Inoculation into Platelet Concentrates

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Microbial contamination of platelet concentrates (PC) poses a significant risk in transfusion medicine.
• Current detection methods require improvement for timely and accurate identification of contaminants.
• Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis presents a novel approach for biomarker discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potential gene expression biomarkers for detecting microbial contamination in platelet concentrates.
• To investigate the host response to Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis contamination in PCs.
• To evaluate the diagnostic potential of identified DEGs for staphylococcal contamination.

Main Methods:

• Platelet concentrates were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis at 10^3 CFU/mL.
• Total RNA was extracted at 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours post-inoculation for high-throughput RNA sequencing.
• Differentially expressed gene (DEG), gene enrichment, pathway, and ROC analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• 5884 and 974 DEGs were identified in S. aureus and S. epidermidis samples, respectively.
• Distinct pathway enrichments were observed: ribosomal/spliceosome for S. aureus, and MAPK/NK cell pathways for S. epidermidis.
• Genes H19, CAVIN1, A2M, and EPAS1 showed significant diagnostic potential (AUC > 0.8) for staphylococcal contamination.

Conclusions:

• Host gene expression changes in platelet concentrates can serve as biomarkers for microbial contamination.
• Specific genes like H19, CAVIN1, A2M, and EPAS1 show promise for detecting staphylococcal contamination.
• Further research with diverse microbial species is needed to validate these findings for broader application.