The transmission dynamics of respiratory pathogens are exacerbated during winter due to crowding in enclosed environments and reduced indoor humidity caused by heating systems
Current Status of Respiratory Infectious Disease Epidemics in High-Incidence Seasons
Recently, respiratory samples from influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in outpatient and emergency departments of sentinel hospitals under China CDC showed that the dominant positive pathogens were influenza viruses, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and rhinovirus. For hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, the primary positive pathogens detected were influenza viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and HMPV.
Meanwhile, influenza is currently in its seasonal epidemic period, with a rapidly rising positive rate of influenza viruses. In children aged 0–4 years, the positive rate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and, in those ≤14 years, the positive rate of HMPV have both shown fluctuating upward trends, particularly notable in northern provinces.
iGeneTech Whole-Genome Capture Solution for Pathogenic Microorganisms
Traditional microbial detection methods, such as culture-based approaches, are generally effective only for easily cultivable bacteria and fungi. Some pathogens, including viruses, Mycoplasma, and certain anaerobic bacteria, struggle to grow under conventional culture conditions. Real-time quantitative PCR requires pre-designed specific primers and probes, making it challenging to detect emerging or unknown pathogens.
In response to the monitoring needs of China’s disease control system, iGeneTech has developed a liquid-phase probe-based targeted capture method for pathogenic microorganisms. This technology enables the acquisition of complete and uniform full-length pathogen sequences without the need for culturing. Its high-density, diverse probe design strategy and compatibility with novel viral variants provide comprehensive pathogen information for epidemiological surveillance.
Taking the recently high-positive influenza virus as an example, iGeneTech full-length influenza virus capture probes, when used for capture sequencing, yield uniformly covered whole-genome data. For the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) segments critical for influenza virus typing, iGeneTech has designed probes based on the latest database information. This ensures more comprehensive monitoring of influenza virus mutations, evaluation of influenza vaccine effectiveness, and formulation of prevention and control strategies.
iGeneTech Whole-Genome Product List for Pathogenic Microorganisms
During the winter-spring seasons of 2025, China will continue to face challenges from the co-circulation or alternating epidemics of multiple acute respiratory infectious diseases.
By January 2025, iGeneTech had developed over 30 single-pathogen capture probe kits, covering various pathogens prioritized in routine surveillance by China disease control system.
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