A Versatile Processing Workflow to Enable Pathogen Detection in Clinical Samples from Organs Using VIDISCA

Alba Folgueiras-González, Robin van den Braak, Martin Deijs, Lia van der Hoek, Ad de Groof

A simple and semi-high-throughput method that can be used to enrich homogenized tissue samples for viral reads is presented here. Three fast and simple high-throughput virus enrichment methods on tissue homogenates were compared. Probe sonication in high EDTA concentrations, organic extraction with Vertrel™ XF, or a combination of both, were applied prior to chromatography-like enrichment using Capto™ Core 700 resin, after which effects on virus detection sensitivity by the VIDISCA method were determined. Sonication in the presence of high concentrations of EDTA showed the best performance with an increased proportion of viral reads, up to 9.4 times, yet minimal effect on the host background signal. When this sonication procedure in high EDTA concentrations was followed by organic extraction with Vertrel™ XF and two rounds of core bead chromatography enrichment, an increase up to 10.5 times in the proportion of viral reads in the processed samples was achieved, with reduction of host background sequencing.

Published April 2021 in Diagnostics

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HONOURs

Host switching pathogens, infectious outbreaks and zoonosis; a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 721367.