Abstract

Hantavirus is a dangerous zoonotic viral pathogen that is found across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This virus causes a range of symptoms from flu-like malaise to heart failure and death. It is normally transmitted to humans via the aerosolized feces or urine of infected rodents. Currently, there are no known treatments for the disease, and it continues to threaten human health in endemic areas. In order to identify possible future therapeutic targets, we ran a meta-analysis of existing transcriptomic data collected from infected human tissue. Several genes and cellular pathways were identified, in addition to several potential therapeutics that warrant additional testing as potential future therapeutics for hantavirus infection. Such genes include, but are not limited to SLC27A3, NOG, AMIGO1, NUSAP1, and CDC25C which have not been previously associated with hantavirus infection. In addition, we identified that RIG-I and MDA5-associated anti-viral response genes are downregulated, while downstream elements of these pathways are upregulated, indicative of immune activation via alternate pathways. Finally, among the potential therapeutics we identified are dinaciclib, alvodicib, and ruxolitinib, which limit cellular replication, as well as ruxolitinib, baricitinib, and tofacitinib, which target other human intracellular pathways that may aid in successful viral infection. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system of more than six million people worldwide, with most cases found in North America and Europe. Although the disease can occur throughout the entire digestive tract, the classical sign of disease progression is inflammation of the intestine. There are a number of factors that have been associated with the onset and progression of the disease including diet, antibiotics, stress, and bacterial infections, but no putative cause has been found. As diet and the gut biome play a significant role in disease progression, we aimed to find commonalities in the gut microbiomes of Crohn's patients, even when located in different geographical areas.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Life Sciences; Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2022-08-11

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd12498

Keywords

hantavirus, meta-analysis, Crohn's, transcriptomics, metagenomics, MAGs

Language

english

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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