Finding the Prevalence of JCPolyV: the Cause of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in the General Populace of Peshawar and Comparative Analysis of Genomic Sequence

JC-polyomavirus (JCV) is a ds-DNA virus that is responsible for causing a deadly brain disease, Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) that has no known cure. Studies in the USA and other parts of the world have proven that this virus is present in almost

Project Title

Finding the Prevalence of JCPolyV: the Cause of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in the General Populace of Peshawar and Comparative Analysis of Genomic Sequence

Project Area of Specialization

Biomedical Engineering

Project Summary

JC-polyomavirus (JCV) is a ds-DNA virus that is responsible for causing a deadly brain disease, Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) that has no known cure. Studies in the USA and other parts of the world have proven that this virus is present in almost 60-80% of healthy individuals without showing any symptoms. But, if the individual becomes immunocompromised, the virus is activated and travels to the brain, causing the infection. 

The graph above displays the seroprevalence of JCV varying with age, in just one state in the US.

So far, only one related research has been carried out from Pakistan about the presence of this virus in our general population. We want to conduct research from Peshawar to help us determine just how much of our population is positive for this virus and unaware of the threat it poses. The virus has been found to more prevalent in children of 5-11 years of age, a demographic that makes up a very large population in Pakistan. With progression of age, the prevalnce slowly increases as well.

In healthy individuals, the virus remains dormant in the blood and kidneys. Our research will involve collecting data from consenting individuals and blood and/or urine samples and analyzing them for the presence of JCV genome, the conserved sequence of which is known. 

Apart from the statistical data collected, we want to further sequence the entire 5000 base pair genome of this virus (that we obtain from our samples) and compare this sequence with others from around the world. This is to determine whether ethnicity plays a role in prevalence of this virus, how different they are, how similar they are, and what kind of mutations distinguish them from other strains. 

Project Objectives

Our main objective for conducting this research is to bring forth substantial, statistical data about the presence of JC-polyomavirus in the general, healthy population of Peshawar and determining whether ethnicity affects the prevalence of this virus by comparing our data with that obtained from North America and Europe etc. More over, ethnicity based studies will help us find out what serotype exists in Pakistan and whether it really is the same as those found elsewhere or unique here. 

We also aim to figure out how much of the population in Peshawar already has developed PML or is prone to developing it. 

Prevalence studies of this nature are still a very new thing in a country like Pakistan. Our aim is to provide novel and updated information concerning public health in Pakistan. Seeing as a majority of our population is made up of children below 12 years of age and the elderly, both the demographic that fit the prevalence factor, it is important to figure out how much of the population is at risk. 

Project Implementation Method

Our research methodology involves the following key steps:

1. Synthesizing forward and reverse primers through bioinformatics for detection and sequencing of the viral genome through Polymerase Chain Reaction.
2. Collecting relevant history and blood and/or urine samples from consenting individuals, dividing them by age, gender, socioeconomic background, health history etc.
3. DNA amplification of samples using the primers.
4. DNA isolation and Gel electrophoresis of the isolated DNA, to confirm that it belongs to JCV.
5. Amplification of collected viral strains and running them on Gels to obtain strands of the whole genome.
6. Sequencing the whole genome and using Bioinformatics to align it with whole genomes from other countries.
7. Analysing and compiling the data collected.

Benefits of the Project

This project is a novel research for Pakistan, let alone just Peshawar. As of yet, there is no known cure for PML, the deadly brain disease caused by JCV. There is also no direct therapy for treating JCV if a healthy person is positive for it. The major reason being that there is so little information present in the world concerning how this virus interacts with cells in the human body. Our study will finally bring light to exactly how much of the population is positive for this virus, making it a cause for concern. Only then will the relevant authorities be moved to prioritizing research around this virus and the disease it causes. A major benefit of this research is providing basal data from this area that can be added to other geographical collections for the prevalence of JCV for future studies.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Our final deliverable is in the form of large-scale data. The information we collect is imperative to any and all future studies conducted in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world, concerning how JCV is able to survive and thrive inside the human body. Studies like this are the key to developing a possible cure to this life-threatening disease.

Our research will provide

1. Statistics of the prevalence of the virus

2. Multiple aligned sequences of the viral genome showing possible conserved areas and or mutations

3. A first-time whole genome sequencing of a JCV strain from Pakistan

4. A visual of how much more (or less) the population of Peshawar has developed PML or is at risk of developing it.

5. Public health awareness and sanitation and hygiene concerns (that promote the spread of the virus)

Final Deliverable of the Project

Software System

Core Industry

Medical

Other Industries

Health

Core Technology

Big Data

Other Technologies

NeuroTech

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com