Viral metagenomics is increasingly being used for the identification of emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens in clinical samples with unknown etiology. The objective of this study was to shield light on the metavirome composition in clinical samples obtained from patients with clinical history compatible with an arboviral infection, but that presented inconclusive results when tested using RT-qPCR. The inconclusive amplification results might be an indication of the presence of an emerging arboviral agent that is inefficiently amplified by conventional PCR techniques. A total of eight serum samples with inconclusive amplification results for the routinely tested arboviruses—dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and Chikungunya (CHIKV) obtained during DENV and CHIKV outbreaks registered in the state of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil between July and August 2021—were submitted to metagenomic next-generation sequencing assay using NextSeq 2000 and bioinformatic pipeline for viral discovery. The performed bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of two arboviruses: DENV type 2 (DENV-2) and CHIKV with a high genome coverage. Further, the metavirome of those samples revealed the presence of multiple commensal viruses apparently without clinical significance. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the DENV-2 genome belonged to the Asian/American genotype and clustered with other Brazilian strains. The identified CHIKV genome was taxonomically assigned as ECSA genotype, which is circulating in Brazil. Together, our results reinforce the utility of metagenomics as a valuable tool for viral identification in samples with inconclusive arboviral amplification. Viral metagenomics is one of the most potent methods for the identification of emerging arboviruses.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a leading cause of acute respiratory disease outbreaks, especially among children. EV-D68 infections can rapidly progress to severe clinical complications and potentially fatal outcomes. In Brazil, no diagnostic or genomic surveillance of this virus is currently performed. Between July and September 2023, cases of acute EV-D68 infection were identified among pediatric patients in several municipalities within the State of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil. Infections were confirmed by RT-qPCR using nasopharyngeal samples, and the complete EV-D68 genomes were sequenced and analyzed through phylogenetic inference. EV-D68 RNA was identified in four children aged 1–9 years from four geographically distinct municipalities in Alagoas. All infections were associated with lower respiratory tract symptoms, including dyspnea and wheezing; however, no fatalities were reported. Complete genomic sequencing revealed that the samples belonged to genotype B, subgenotype B3. This is the first study to report complete genomic data on EV-D68 infections from Brazil and South America. Enhanced genomic surveillance and focused EV-D68 diagnosis are critical to better understanding and managing the regional and national dissemination of this virus.

Genomic and epidemiological surveillance play a critical role in understanding the spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 at the regional level. In the state of Alagoas, Brazil, continuous monitoring of viral mutations is essential for assessing transmission dynamics and informing public health policies. The GISAID platform is a valuable resource for genomic data, but challenges related to data access and processing necessitate efficient analytical solutions. This study presents an automated pipeline designed to streamline the retrieval, filtering, and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from GISAID, with a specific focus on genomic surveillance in Alagoas. Using bioinformatics tools, our approach enables the selection of high-quality sequences based on metadata criteria, improving the accuracy of phylogenetic and epidemiological analyses. Our results demonstrate the successful retrieval and processing of over 90 high-quality SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Alagoas, allowing for the identification of region-specific mutations and their association with emerging variants. Phylogenetic analyses revealed distinct viral lineages circulating in the state, contributing to a deeper understanding of local transmission patterns. Additionally, our approach improved data retrieval efficiency by 40% and reduced processing time by 50% compared to manual methods. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Central Public Health Laboratory of the State of Alagoas, reinforcing the importance of integrating automated bioinformatics tools into regional genomic surveillance efforts. Our study provides a scalable and efficient solution for real-time SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and can be adapted for other viral pathogens, enhancing epidemiological preparedness in Alagoas and beyond.

Com base em dados da China, onde a pandemia se deu origem, a lesão cardíaca se tornou uma característica proeminente da doença, acometendo até 30% dos pacientes e auxiliando para 40% das mortes. Foram descritas diversas complicações cardiovasculares, como lesão miocárdica (20% dos casos), arritmias (16%), miocardite (10%), além de insuficiência cardíaca (IC) e choque (até 5% dos casos). O objetivo desse trabalho é informar e descrever sobre a nova miocardite ocasionada pelo novo vírus. E demonstrar a importância para novos estudos relacionados com a nova doença. Foram utilizadas todas as publicações que possuírem dados sobre a nova miocardite em pacientes com o novo SARS-CoV-2, publicações científicas, oficiais da Organização Mundial da Saúde e governamentais, dentre a determinada data (2019-2021). Foram encontrados aproximadamente 500 artigos, foram verificados os idiomas, e se realmente se tratava sobre o tema da nova miocardite relacionada ao novo vírus, então foram obtidos 39 artigos para a realização da discussão. A lesão do miocárdio, sinalizada por marcadores foi evidenciada já nos primeiros casos da doença. O Conselho Nacional de Saúde da China demonstrou em um relatório, 12% dos pacientes sem problemas cardiovasculares. Sendo assim, já que o SARS-CoV-1 e SARS-CoV-2 atinge as células através da enzima conversora de angiotensina 2, onde isso possivelmente acontece também em pacientes infectados com o novo vírus. Porém ainda são necessárias mais pesquisas para comprovação dessas possíveis teorias.