PACIFIC: a lightweight deep-learning classifier of SARS-CoV-2 and co-infecting RNA viruses.

Journal: Scientific reports
PMID:

Abstract

Viral co-infections occur in COVID-19 patients, potentially impacting disease progression and severity. However, there is currently no dedicated method to identify viral co-infections in patient RNA-seq data. We developed PACIFIC, a deep-learning algorithm that accurately detects SARS-CoV-2 and other common RNA respiratory viruses from RNA-seq data. Using in silico data, PACIFIC recovers the presence and relative concentrations of viruses with > 99% precision and recall. PACIFIC accurately detects SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections in 63 independent in vitro cell culture and patient datasets. PACIFIC is an end-to-end tool that enables the systematic monitoring of viral infections in the current global pandemic.

Authors

  • Pablo Acera Mateos
    John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia.
  • Renzo F Balboa
    John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia.
  • Simon Easteal
    John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia.
  • Eduardo Eyras
    The John Curtin School of Medical, Australian National University, Acton ACT, Canberra, 2601, Australia. eduardo.eyras@anu.edu.au.
  • Hardip R Patel
    John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia. hardip.patel@anu.edu.au.