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Terry Fei Fan Ng Email: feifanng@marine.usf.edu Phone: (727) 553-3930; FAX: (727) 553-1189
Project: Discovery and Characterization of Novel Pathogenic Viruses from Animals Diseases amongst organisms are emerging at an increasing rate, but the causative agents of these diseases are largely unknown. Current methods for diagnosing viral infections in marine animals use PCR, immunologic assays, or replication in cell culture to test for specific viruses. The problem with these techniques is that they require prior knowledge and assumptions about the type of virus expected (i.e., you find only what you look for). While current methods are good at diagnosing known viruses, they are very ineffective for discovering new viruses. Diagnosing novel viral infections is difficult due to our inability to culture many viruses on cell lines in the laboratory, the small size and low nucleic acid content of viruses, and the lack of a conserved genetic element that is found in all viral genomes that can be used for PCR-based analyses. The limitations of virus discovery can be overcome through the use of viral metagenomics. First, virus particles are purified from a sample of interest by the selection for viral particles based on size, density, and nuclease resistance. Viral purification is then followed by sequence-independent amplification and shotgun sequencing. We have developed this technique to discover new animal viruses in blood and many different types of tissues, such as brain, lungs, skin and tumors. We are currently collaborating with pathologists and veterinarians throughout the United States to investigate new and unknown viral infections in animals. Once novel viruses are identified from the viral metagenome, PCR primers are designed to rapidly screen a large number of samples in order to determine the prevalence, abundance, and geographical distribution of the novel viruses, as well as epidemiological links between infected animals. By examining healthy animals and the surrounding environment for specific viral pathogens, it will be possible to determine if the apparent increase in diseases amongst marine organisms is due to the introduction of new viruses, or if the viruses are newly associated with disease due to stress or other environmental factors. Using viral metagenomics we have discovered novel viruses in sea turtles and sea lions using this method, and efforts to characterize viruses in other marine animals are ongoing. This approach towards conservation medicine has implications for management of protected species, veterinary diagnosis, treatment of infectious diseases, and our understanding of molecular evolution of viruses. If you are a veterinarian or pathologist treating an animal with an unknown viral infection and are interested in this technique, please contact Mya Breitbart by e-mail: mya@marine.usf.eduAwards and Honors The Elsie and William Knight, Jr. Endowed Fellowship. 2008 - Graduation 39th International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference Best Student Presentation Award. 2008 USF College of Marine Science Graduate Student Symposium Award (2nd). 2007-2008. USF Distinct Graduate Student Achievement Award. 2008 Gulf Oceanographic Trust Fellowships. 2007-2008 38th International Association for
Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference Best Poster Award. 2007 Publications Terry Fei Fan Ng, Charles Manire, Kelly Borrowman, Tammy Langer, Llewellyn Ehrhart, Mya Breitbart. 2008. A Novel Virus Discovered from a Sea Turtle Fibropapilloma using Viral Metagenomics and the Characterization of its Quasispecies. (In review) Terry Fei Fan Ng, William Suedmeyer, Frances Gulland, Elizabeth Wheeler, and Mya Breitbart. 2008. Discovery Of A Novel Anellovirus From A Mortality Event Of Four Captive California Sea Lions Using Viral Metagenomics. (In preparation) Terry Fei Fan Ng, Elise Bixby, Jane Polston, and Mya Breitbart. Characterization of Viruses from White Flies Using Viral Metagenome. (In preparation)
Scientific Presentations 108th American Society of Microbiology General Meeting. 2008. Poster Presentation. “A Novel Virus Discovered from a Sea Turtle Fibropapilloma using Viral Metagenomics and the Characterization of its Quasispecies.” 39th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference (IAAAM), Pomezia, Italy. 2008. Oral Presentation: “Discovery Of A Novel Anellovirus From A Mortality Event Of Four Captive California Sea Lions Using Viral Metagenomics”. *Best Oral Presentation Award Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference III. 2008. Poster Presentation. “Viral Metagenomics Reveals a Novel Anellovirus from a Mortality Event of Four Captive California Sea Lions.” USF College of Marine Science Graduate Student Symposium. 2008. Oral Presentation: “A Novel Virus Discovered from a Sea Turtle Fibropapilloma using Viral Metagenomics and the Characterization of its Quasispecies”. *2nd Best Oral Presentation Award Florida Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 2007. Oral Presentation: “Novel Viruses Discovered in Sea Turtle Fibropapilloma and Sea Lion Lung Tissue using Virus Purification and Shotgun Sequencing”. 38th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference (IAAAM). 2007. Poster: “Identification of Novel Pathogenic Viruses by Shotgun Sequencing”. *Best Poster Presentation Award 3rd Annual USF Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium. 2007. Poster: “Identification of Novel Pathogenic Viruses by Shotgun Sequencing: Experiments on the Fibropapilloma-associated Turtle Herpesvirus and a Novel Eel Virus” USF College of Marine Science Graduate Student Symposium. 2006. Oral Presentation: “Identification of Novel Pathogenic Viruses by Shotgun Sequencing – Application in Green Turtle Fibropapilloma”. *2nd Best Oral Presentation Award
Keywords: shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus shotgun sequencing marine animal pathogenic virus eukaryotic virus eukaryotic virus eukaryotic virus eukaryotic virus animal virus animal virus animal virus animal virus DNA virus DNA virus DNA virus DNA virus RNA virus RNA virus RNA virus RNA virus RNA virus sick animal virus animal illness animal disease animal pathogen animal pathology virus discovery method insect virus plant virus virus purification veterinary diagnosis virology molecular virology viral infection infectious virus sick animal virus animal illness animal disease animal pathogen animal pathology virus discovery method insect virus plant virus virus purification veterinary diagnosis virology molecular virology viral infection infectious virus sick animal virus animal illness animal disease animal pathogen animal pathology virus discovery method insect virus plant virus virus purification veterinary diagnosis virology molecular virology viral infection infectious virus unknown virus identification new virus discovery unknown virus identification new virus discovery unknown virus identification new virus discovery |
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