Pilot Project, Year 2

High-throughput characterization of health disparities related to viral infections

Viral pathogens are a significant burden to human health, and despite advances in the development of vaccines and therapeutics, viral diseases are expected to continue to plague the human population for the foreseeable future.

In fact, changes in human behavior related with modernization and the continued increase in global population size are likely to increase the number and severity of outbreaks caused by emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens. While these emerging diseases are of universal concern, historical records clearly demonstrate that particular societal groups typically bear unequal burdens of morbidity and mortality associated with outbreaks of infectious disease.

In order to address these health disparities, it is critical to understand the differential health burdens resulting from infectious diseases, which are pathogen-specific and vary in space and time. Unfortunately, the currently used DNA- and protein-level detection methods lack the sensitivity and throughput necessary for comprehensive and fine-scale characterization of viral exposure to be conducted broadly within the human population.

This study used PepSeq technology to develop a sensitive, high-throughput and adaptable assay for characterizing an individual’s nearly complete history of viral exposures within a single reaction. Their work demonstrated the utility of this approach for detecting health disparities through a pilot study in Flagstaff, AZ. They discovered that a better understanding of health disparities is integral to targeting intervention strategies to promote health equity.

Funding: The study is funded by NIMHD/NIH U54MD012388

About the investigator