The metagenomic approach and causality in virology

Castrignano, Silvana Beres; Nagasse-Sugahara, Teresa Keico

Before the association between an infectious agent and a disease is made public, it needs to be well established. The adequate treatment of patients suffering from an infectious disease, implementation of preventive measures, understanding of the different phases of the disease, development of therapies, and occasionally, the development of a vaccine depend on the elucidation of this association. 13 The criteria for achieving correct associations are being proposed by eminent scientists. 7, [9] [10] [11] 13, 16, 19 With regard to viruses, which are the focus here, the need for establishing a causal association is a very contemporary subject because many viruses are now being discovered. Metagenomic techniques and nextgeneration sequencing platforms are the main drivers of these discoveries. At the same time, several potentially infectious diseases and several cases of common infectious diseases, including acute respiratory disease, encephalitis, acute gastroenteritis, and hepatitis, do not have a known etiological agent. 12, 16