{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:20:51Z","timestamp":1760059251907,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]],"date-time":"2025-05-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748649600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100006245","name":"National key research and development program","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2024YFC2310901","2020YFE0205700"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024YFC2310901","2020YFE0205700"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100006245","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>(1) Background: A safe and effective nucleic acid sample transportation method was developed that is suitable for underdeveloped areas which lack advanced sequencing capabilities, specifically for virus genomic sequencing and infectious disease monitoring. (2) Methods: This study evaluated the use of Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards for transporting amplified whole-genome DNA from 120 SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal swab samples in Sierra Leone. Nucleic acid extraction and whole-genome amplification were conducted at a local laboratory. Amplified products were applied to FTA Elute cards for room temperature shipment to China CDC for elution and sequencing. (3) Results: The FTA card method achieved a 9.6% recovery rate for amplicons, sufficient for viral genome sequencing. In total, 86 (71.7%) high-quality SRAS-CoV-2 genomic sequences were obtained, with the majority reaching depths exceeding 100X. Sequence analysis revealed co-circulation of Delta, Omicron, and B.1 lineages. Higher Ct values in the original sample significantly reduced coverage and depth, with Ct \u2264 27; 73.6% of samples yielded effective sequences. (4) Conclusions: Transportation of amplified nucleic acid samples using FTA cards enables virus genomic sequencing in resource-limited areas. This approach can potentially improve local virus surveillance and outbreak response capabilities. Further optimizations could improve sequence recovery rate. Implementing this method could significantly enhance sequencing accessibility in underdeveloped regions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v17060804","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,2]],"date-time":"2025-06-02T12:27:09Z","timestamp":1748867229000},"page":"804","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Facilitating Cross-border Viral Sequencing Through Nucleic Acid Sample Transport Using Dry Cards"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3000-1090","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lili","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"},{"name":"Center for Global Public Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8239-0214","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Qikai","family":"Yin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alie Brima","family":"Tia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown P.O. Box 232, Sierra Leone"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fengyu","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7022-0418","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Liping","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7963-8431","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kai","family":"Nie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kang","family":"Xiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xuejun","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaoping","family":"Dong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Doris","family":"Harding","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown P.O. Box 232, Sierra Leone"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9292-5788","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xiaozhou","family":"He","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"George F.","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China"},{"name":"CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100045, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ladner, J.T., and Sahl, J.W. (2023). Towards a post-pandemic future for global pathogen genome sequencing. PLoS Biol., 21.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pbio.3002225"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"eabq5358","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abq5358","article-title":"The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance","volume":"378","author":"Tegally","year":"2022","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beyerl, J., Rubio-Acero, R., Castelletti, N., Paunovic, I., Kroidl, I., Khan, Z.N., Bakuli, A., Tautz, A., Oft, J., and Hoelscher, M. (2021). A dried blood spot protocol for high throughput analysis of SARS-CoV-2 serology based on the Roche Elecsys anti-N assay. EBioMedicine, 70.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ebiom.2021.103502"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3204","DOI":"10.1021\/acssensors.1c00702","article-title":"Point-of-Care Toolkit for Multiplex Molecular Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A and B Viruses","volume":"6","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"ACS Sensors"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Krambrich, J., Bringeland, E., Hesson, J.C., Hoffman, T., Lundkvist, \u00c5., Lindahl, J.F., and Ling, J. (2022). Usage of FTA\u00ae Classic Cards for Safe Storage, Shipment, and Detection of Arboviruses. Microorganisms, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms10071445"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tully, D.C., Power, K.A., Sarette, J., Stopka, T.J., Friedmann, P.D., Korthuis, P.T., Cooper, H., Young, A.M., Seal, D.W., and Westergaard, R.P. (2023). Validation of Dried Blood Spots for Capturing Hepatitis C Virus Diversity for Genomic Surveillance. medRxiv.","DOI":"10.1101\/2023.07.06.23292160"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lago, B.V.D., Bezerra, C.S., Moreira, D.A., Parente, T.E., Portilho, M.M., Pess\u00f4a, R., Sanabani, S.S., and Villar, L.M. (2023). Genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus quasispecies in different biological compartments reveals distinct genotypes. Sci. Rep., 13.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-43655-0"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kanta, P., Chhikara, K., Mohan, L., Ghosh, A., Goyal, K., and Singh, M.P. (2022). Alternate Approach in Storing and Shipment of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Samples with the Use of FTA Cards. Curr. Microbiol., 79.","DOI":"10.1007\/s00284-022-03079-x"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"963","DOI":"10.15212\/ZOONOSES-2023-0022","article-title":"Visual and Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in Stool Samples by FTA Card-based Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification","volume":"3","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Zoonoses"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"496","DOI":"10.1637\/aviandiseases-D20-00030","article-title":"Whatman\u00ae FTA\u00ae Cards Performance for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale DNA Amplification","volume":"64","author":"Veiga","year":"2020","journal-title":"Avian Dis."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.4103\/0972-9062.225834","article-title":"Improving vector-borne pathogen surveillance: A laboratory-based study exploring the potential to detect dengue virus and malaria parasites in mosquito saliva","volume":"54","author":"Melanson","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Vector Borne Dis."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kariithi, H.M., Christy, N., Decanini, E.L., Lemiere, S., Volkening, J.D., Afonso, C.L., and Suarez, D.L. (2022). Detection and Genome Sequence Analysis of Avian Metapneumovirus Subtype A Viruses Circulating in Commercial Chicken Flocks in Mexico. Veter- Sci., 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci9100579"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2022.105208","article-title":"The dynamic change of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Sierra Leone","volume":"98","author":"Lin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Infect. Genet. Evol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1416","DOI":"10.1080\/22221751.2022.2076612","article-title":"Molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing reveal real etiological characteristics of invasive Salmonella infection in febrile illness in Freetown, Sierra Leone","volume":"11","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Emerg. Microbes Infect."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jviromet.2015.12.010","article-title":"Long-term storage and safe retrieval of human papillomavirus DNA using FTA elute cards","volume":"229","author":"Barth","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Virol. Methods"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Taesuji, M., Rattanamas, K., Yim, P.B., and Ruenphet, S. (2024). Stability and Detection Limit of Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease Virus, and African Horse Sickness Virus on Flinders Technology Associates Card by Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction. Animals, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14081242"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1292\/jvms.14-0227","article-title":"Establishing conditions for the storage and elution of rabies virus RNA using FTA\u00ae cards","volume":"77","author":"Sakai","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Sci."}],"container-title":["Viruses"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4915\/17\/6\/804\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:44:44Z","timestamp":1760031884000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4915\/17\/6\/804"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]]},"references-count":17,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6]]}},"alternative-id":["v17060804"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/v17060804","relation":{},"ISSN":["1999-4915"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1999-4915"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,31]]}}}