Three minimal sequences found in Ebola virus genomes and absent from human DNA

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2015

Autores

Silva, RM (Autor) Outra; Pratas, D (Autor) Outra; Castro, L (Autor) FCUP; Pinho, AJ (Autor) Outra; Ferreira, PJSG (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Bioinformatics

Vol. 31

Páginas: 2421-2425

ISSN: 1367-4803

Editora: Oxford University Press

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 28 Citações

Scopus - 37 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00G-FH1

DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btv189

Abstract (EN): Motivation: Ebola virus causes high mortality hemorrhagic fevers, with more than 25 000 cases and 10 000 deaths in the current outbreak. Only experimental therapies are available, thus, novel diagnosis tools and druggable targets are needed. Results: Analysis of Ebola virus genomes from the current outbreak reveals the presence of short DNA sequences that appear nowhere in the human genome. We identify the shortest such sequences with lengths between 12 and 14. Only three absent sequences of length 12 exist and they consistently appear at the same location on two of the Ebola virus proteins, in all Ebola virus genomes, but nowhere in the human genome. The alignment-free method used is able to identify pathogen-specific signatures for quick and precise action against infectious agents, of which the current Ebola virus outbreak provides a compelling example.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 5