Evaluation of two virome probe hybridization capture panels for food safety surveillance

In recent years, viromics has received growing attention for viral disease surveillance. This study set out to compare the VirCapSeq-VERT panel and the Comprehensive Viral Research Panel (CVR Panel) for probe hybridization capture of viral nucleic acids in oyster extracts, a main vehicle for the transmission of foodborne viruses. Using ten-fold serial dilutions of human norovirus (hNoV) GI.2 and GII.4 spike-in oyster extracts, both hybridization capture panels achieved detection levels down to 14 genome copies (gc) for hNoV GI.2 and 5 gc for hNoV GII.4. For hNoV GI.2, a genome coverage of ≥ 95% was achieved at 59 gc using the CVR Panel, whereas 724 gc were required for a similar coverage using VirCapSeq-VERT. For hNoV GII.4, a genome coverage of ≥ 97% was achieved at 87 gc with either panel. Next, the hybridization capture performance was compared for a mixture of various foodborne viruses (hNoV GI.2, hNoV GI.3, hNoV GII.4, hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus) in the absence of matrix and in the presence of oyster matrix. Sensitive detection of all added viruses was observed at low input levels (less than 200 gc/constructed library) in oyster extract. Taken together, the CVR Panel seems as good as, or slightly more sensitive than, VirCapSeq-VERT for the viruses tested. The availability of various viral enrichment panels, together with foreseen improvements regarding the cost-effectiveness and accessibility, is poised to facilitate broad hazard assessment and genomic profiling techniques in food virology, thereby enhancing food safety and improving early warning.