{
  "abstract": "Hepatitis of unknown origin (HUO) remains a diagnostic challenge, with metagenomic studies underexplored in adult cohorts. This study characterized the plasma and fecal virome in a predominantly adult HUO cohort (48 adults and 1 adolescent). A total of 59 samples (44 plasma, 15 fecal) from 49 patients were subjected to ultra-multiplex targeted ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing (139 RNA viruses) and unbiased metagenomic sequencing. Targeted sequencing detected HCV in one plasma sample, confirmed by follow-up reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and seroconversion, leading to case reclassification. Metagenomic sequencing identified HBV sequences in another patient, along with sporadic goose circovirus (GoCV) and an unconfirmed low-level influenza A-like signal. Viral community analysis revealed distinct niche-specific profiles between plasma and feces. Overall, this exploratory study failed to identify a common pathogenic agent, underscoring the etiological heterogeneity of HUO. The detection of known hepatotropic viruses highlights the diagnostic value of metagenomic sequencing in complementing conventional serology and reclassifying some HUO cases. Larger controlled studies are warranted.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinxin Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuanjiao Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ziyu Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yaqin Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Weihua Cao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Wen Deng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shiyu Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xin Wei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zixuan Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Linmei Yao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shuojie Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yao Xie"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Minghui Li"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqxy2x2akjdrp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.bsheal.2026.09.003",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13729065/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "cqxy2x2akjdrp",
  "issns": [
    "2590-0536",
    "2096-6962"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13729065",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Hepatitis B Virus Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213541719",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13729065/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13729065",
  "pmid": "42979304",
  "published": "2026-09-18",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqxy2x2akjdrp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:47Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13729065",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13729065"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:21:53Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13729065",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bsheal.2026.09.003"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2713|Hepatitis B Virus Studies",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Metagenomic study in a predominantly adult cohort with hepatitis of unknown etiology",
  "title_text": "Metagenomic study in a predominantly adult cohort with hepatitis of unknown etiology",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:21:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cqxy2x2akjdrp",
  "venue": "Biosafety and health",
  "versions": []
}