Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus

IntroductionGastric cancer (GC), which has low survival rates and high mortality, is a major concern, particularly in Asia and South America, with over one million annual cases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is recognized as a carcinogen that may trigger gastric carcinogenesis by infecting the stomach ep...

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Main Authors: Klezzer de Oliveira Carneiro, Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo, Ronald Matheus Da Silva Mourão, Samir Mansour Moraes Casseb, Samia Demachki, Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira, Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro Dos Santos, Geraldo Ishak, Daniel de Souza Avelar Da Costa, Leandro Magalhães, Amanda Ferreira Vidal, Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano, Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530430/full
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author Klezzer de Oliveira Carneiro
Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo
Ronald Matheus Da Silva Mourão
Samir Mansour Moraes Casseb
Samia Demachki
Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira
Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro Dos Santos
Geraldo Ishak
Daniel de Souza Avelar Da Costa
Leandro Magalhães
Amanda Ferreira Vidal
Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano
Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção
author_facet Klezzer de Oliveira Carneiro
Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo
Ronald Matheus Da Silva Mourão
Samir Mansour Moraes Casseb
Samia Demachki
Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira
Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro Dos Santos
Geraldo Ishak
Daniel de Souza Avelar Da Costa
Leandro Magalhães
Amanda Ferreira Vidal
Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano
Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção
author_sort Klezzer de Oliveira Carneiro
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionGastric cancer (GC), which has low survival rates and high mortality, is a major concern, particularly in Asia and South America, with over one million annual cases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is recognized as a carcinogen that may trigger gastric carcinogenesis by infecting the stomach epithelium via reactivated B cells, with growing evidence linking it to GC. This study investigates the transcriptional and microbial profiles of EBV-infected versus EBV-non-infected GC patients.MethodsUsing Illumina NextSeq, cDNA libraries were sequenced, and reads were aligned to the human genome and analyzed with DESeq2. Kegg and differential analyses revealed key genes and pathways. Gene sensitivity and specificity were assessed using ROC curves (p < 0.05, AUC > 0.8). Non-aligned reads were used for microbiome analysis with Kraken2 for bacterial identification. Microbial analysis included LDA score, Alpha and Beta diversity metrics, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Spearman’s correlation between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and bacteria were also examined.ResultsThe data revealed a gene expression pattern in EBV-positive gastric cancer, highlighting immune response, inflammation, and cell proliferation genes (e.g., GBP4, ICAM1, IL32, TNFSF10). ROC analysis identified genes with high specificity and sensitivity for discriminating EBV+ gastric cancer, including GBP5, CMKLR1, GM2A and CXCL11 that play pivotal roles in immune response, inflammation, and cancer. Functional enrichment pointed to cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, antigen processing, and Th17 immune response, emphasizing the role of the tumor microenvironment, shaped by inflammation and immunomodulation, in EBV-associated GC. Microbial analysis revealed changes in the gastric microbiota in EBV+ samples, with a significant reduction in bacterial taxa. The genera Choristoneura and Bartonella were more abundant in EBV+ GC, while more abundant bacteria in EBV- GC included Citrobacter, Acidithiobacillus and Biochmannia. Spearman’s correlation showed a strong link between DE bacterial genera and DEGs involved in processes like cell differentiation, cytokine production, digestion, and cell death.ConclusionThese findings suggest a complex interaction between the host (EBV+ GC) and the microbiota, possibly influencing cancer progression, and offering potential therapeutic targets such as microbiota modulation or gene regulation. Comparing with EBV- samples further highlights the specific impact of EBV and the microbiota on gastric cancer pathogenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-aa36a2b77f154d13b82c3c35885137ec2025-08-20T03:15:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-03-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15304301530430Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virusKlezzer de Oliveira Carneiro0Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo1Ronald Matheus Da Silva Mourão2Samir Mansour Moraes Casseb3Samia Demachki4Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira5Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro Dos Santos6Geraldo Ishak7Daniel de Souza Avelar Da Costa8Leandro Magalhães9Amanda Ferreira Vidal10Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano11Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção12Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilBiological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOphir Loyola, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilOncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, BrazilIntroductionGastric cancer (GC), which has low survival rates and high mortality, is a major concern, particularly in Asia and South America, with over one million annual cases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is recognized as a carcinogen that may trigger gastric carcinogenesis by infecting the stomach epithelium via reactivated B cells, with growing evidence linking it to GC. This study investigates the transcriptional and microbial profiles of EBV-infected versus EBV-non-infected GC patients.MethodsUsing Illumina NextSeq, cDNA libraries were sequenced, and reads were aligned to the human genome and analyzed with DESeq2. Kegg and differential analyses revealed key genes and pathways. Gene sensitivity and specificity were assessed using ROC curves (p < 0.05, AUC > 0.8). Non-aligned reads were used for microbiome analysis with Kraken2 for bacterial identification. Microbial analysis included LDA score, Alpha and Beta diversity metrics, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Spearman’s correlation between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and bacteria were also examined.ResultsThe data revealed a gene expression pattern in EBV-positive gastric cancer, highlighting immune response, inflammation, and cell proliferation genes (e.g., GBP4, ICAM1, IL32, TNFSF10). ROC analysis identified genes with high specificity and sensitivity for discriminating EBV+ gastric cancer, including GBP5, CMKLR1, GM2A and CXCL11 that play pivotal roles in immune response, inflammation, and cancer. Functional enrichment pointed to cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, antigen processing, and Th17 immune response, emphasizing the role of the tumor microenvironment, shaped by inflammation and immunomodulation, in EBV-associated GC. Microbial analysis revealed changes in the gastric microbiota in EBV+ samples, with a significant reduction in bacterial taxa. The genera Choristoneura and Bartonella were more abundant in EBV+ GC, while more abundant bacteria in EBV- GC included Citrobacter, Acidithiobacillus and Biochmannia. Spearman’s correlation showed a strong link between DE bacterial genera and DEGs involved in processes like cell differentiation, cytokine production, digestion, and cell death.ConclusionThese findings suggest a complex interaction between the host (EBV+ GC) and the microbiota, possibly influencing cancer progression, and offering potential therapeutic targets such as microbiota modulation or gene regulation. Comparing with EBV- samples further highlights the specific impact of EBV and the microbiota on gastric cancer pathogenesis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530430/fullgastric cancerEBVmetatranscriptomicsgastric microbiomecarcinogenesis
spellingShingle Klezzer de Oliveira Carneiro
Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo
Ronald Matheus Da Silva Mourão
Samir Mansour Moraes Casseb
Samia Demachki
Fabiano Cordeiro Moreira
Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro Dos Santos
Geraldo Ishak
Daniel de Souza Avelar Da Costa
Leandro Magalhães
Amanda Ferreira Vidal
Rommel Mario Rodriguez Burbano
Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção
Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
Frontiers in Oncology
gastric cancer
EBV
metatranscriptomics
gastric microbiome
carcinogenesis
title Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
title_full Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
title_fullStr Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
title_short Transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with Epstein-Barr virus
title_sort transcriptional and microbial profile of gastric cancer patients infected with epstein barr virus
topic gastric cancer
EBV
metatranscriptomics
gastric microbiome
carcinogenesis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1530430/full
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