Collaboration with the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology at Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana and the Omega d.o.o. led to confirmation of the first case of mammalian ortoreovirus* (MRV) detected in a child with acute gastroenteritis. Novel virus was detected by next generation sequencing (NGS) Ion Torrent Personal Genomic Machine. This is the first report of discovery of this orthoreovirus in humans and is concurrently the first new generation sequenced viral genome found in humans in Slovenia. Virus showed the highest similarity to MRV reported in bats. Another novelty of the research was the use of the convective interaction media (CIM®) monolithic chromatography (Slovenian technology by BIA Separations d.o.o.) for enrichment and purification of the target virus, prior to the sequencing.

The paper was accepted for publication in Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

*Mammalian orthoreoviruses are known to cause mainly mild enteric and respiratory infections in humans. They are widespread and can infect a broad spectrum of mammals.

Link to the paper