Title |
The Complex Exogenous RNA Spectra in Human Plasma: An Interface with Human Gut Biota?
|
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, December 2012
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0051009 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Kai Wang, Hong Li, Yue Yuan, Alton Etheridge, Yong Zhou, David Huang, Paul Wilmes, David Galas |
Abstract |
Human plasma has long been a rich source for biomarker discovery. It has recently become clear that plasma RNA molecules, such as microRNA, in addition to proteins are common and can serve as biomarkers. Surveying human plasma for microRNA biomarkers using next generation sequencing technology, we observed that a significant fraction of the circulating RNA appear to originate from exogenous species. With careful analysis of sequence error statistics and other controls, we demonstrated that there is a wide range of RNA from many different organisms, including bacteria and fungi as well as from other species. These RNAs may be associated with protein, lipid or other molecules protecting them from RNase activity in plasma. Some of these RNAs are detected in intracellular complexes and may be able to influence cellular activities under in vitro conditions. These findings raise the possibility that plasma RNAs of exogenous origin may serve as signaling molecules mediating for example the human-microbiome interaction and may affect and/or indicate the state of human health. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 7 | 35% |
Canada | 2 | 10% |
France | 1 | 5% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 5% |
Switzerland | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 8 | 40% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 13 | 65% |
Scientists | 4 | 20% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 10% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 5% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Denmark | 2 | <1% |
Netherlands | 2 | <1% |
Belgium | 2 | <1% |
Austria | 1 | <1% |
India | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
Other | 6 | 2% |
Unknown | 248 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 70 | 26% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 59 | 22% |
Student > Master | 24 | 9% |
Professor | 14 | 5% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 5% |
Other | 46 | 17% |
Unknown | 40 | 15% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 108 | 41% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 45 | 17% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 30 | 11% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 7 | 3% |
Neuroscience | 4 | 2% |
Other | 21 | 8% |
Unknown | 51 | 19% |