Characterizing dynamic changes of plasma cell-free Echinococcus granulosus DNA before and after cystic echinococcosis treatment initiation

作者：Zhao, Yanping; Gongsang, Quzhen; Ji, Jingkai; Li, Junhua; Qi, Fahai; Li, Jiandong; Qiangba, Gezhen; Danzeng, Wangmu; Chen, Fang; Zhou, Hongcheng; Huasang; Yin, Jiefang; Pei, Na; Xie, Jiandan; Cai, Huimin; Asan; Pang, Huasheng^*; Li, Jingzhong^*; Chen, Weijun^*; Li, Bin^*

来源：Genomics, 2021, 113(2): 576-582.

DOI：10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.12.035

• Cell-free DNA
• Drug therapy
• Cystic echinococcosis
• Echinococcus granulosus
• High-throughput sequencing

Over one million people are living with cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE). For CE, long-term albendazole treatment is often needed, which requires regular follow-up. Follow-up is mainly through imaging which is insensitive to subtle changes and subjective to experience. We investigated the changes of Echinococcus granulosus (Eg) cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma of CE patients before and after albendazole treatment to evaluate its potential as an objective marker for treatment follow-up. Plasma samples of nine CE patients were collected before and after treatment. We identified Eg cfDNA from every sample through high-throughput sequencing. Eg MONA concentration and fragment length increased significantly after the treatment period. Ultrasound examination before and after the treatment initiation reflected the drug effects to a certain extent, as the cyst size of four patients reduced. Our findings indicated that Eg cfDNA from plasma could be a potential marker in the monitoring of CE treatment.

• 单位
  中国科学院研究生院; 深圳华大基因研究院