AUTHOR=Wang Cheng , Zhang Cuiping , Fu Quan , Zhang Nan , Ding Meng , Zhou Zhen , Chen Xi , Zhang Fengmin , Zhang Chunni , Zhang Chen-Yu , Wang Jun-Jun 

TITLE=Increased serum piwi-interacting RNAs as a novel potential diagnostic tool for brucellosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.992775

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.992775

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have emerged as potential novel indicators for various diseases; however, their diagnostic value for brucellosis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of altered serum piRNAs in patients with brucellosis.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Illumina sequencing <italic>via</italic> synthesis (SBS) technology was used to screen the serum piRNA profile in brucellosis patients, and markedly dysregulated piRNAs were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay in two sets from a cohort of 73 brucellosis patients and 65 controls.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Illumina SBS technology results showed that seven piRNAs were markedly elevated in brucellosis patients compared to normal controls. The seven upregulated piRNAs were further validated individually by qRT-PCR, of which three piRNAs (piR-000753, piR-001312, and piR-016742) were confirmed to be significantly and steadily increased in the patients (&gt; 2-fold, P &lt; 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) for the three piRNAs ranged from 0.698 to 0.783. The AUC for the three piRNAs combination was 0.772, with a specificity of 86% and a positive predictive value of 90%, respectively.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>The three-piRNA panel identified in this study has potential as a novel blood-based auxiliary tool for brucellosis detection.</p></sec>