IISc team develop biomarkers to spot bacterial, viral infections

Context

A study has identified a set of molecular biomarkers that can be used in the differential diagnosis of acute bacterial and viral infections, including Covid-19.

About the developed biomarkers

• In the new study, researchers have developed a test using patient blood transcriptomes and computational modeling.
  • A transcriptome is a full set of mRNA molecules expressed by a biological cell, which is measured using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies.
• During an infection, there are specific genes that get turned on and these, in turn, lead to higher amounts of specific mRNAs and ultimately, higher amounts of the corresponding proteins.
• These biomarkers are different messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules found in the blood.
• Differences in their levels can detect and predict with high probability if an infection is viral or bacterial.

• The human body responds to bacterial and viral diseases differently, producing molecules in the blood depending on the type of infection.

• Researchers devised a standalone score called VB10, which could be used for diagnosis, monitoring the stage of recovery after infection, and estimating the severity of the infection.
  • VB10 accurately indicated whether a given blood sample had a bacterial or viral infection, across different bacteria and viruses and across different age groups.
  • The test could be useful for differentiating Covid-19 infection from bacterial infections as well.

Use of biomarkers during infection

• While antibiotics can treat bacterial infections, they are ineffective against viral ones.

• Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has given rise to bacterial strains that are now resistant to the existing arsenal of antibiotics.

• Antibiotics are given even for viral infections in some cases because of misdiagnosis.

• With current methods, it can take a lot of time to test for bacterial or viral infections.