Microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) analysis offers a novel approach for monitoring blood-borne viral infections, with prior studies highlighting its clinical utility in viral lineage characterization. However, existing research predominantly employs cross-sectional designs, lacking systematic investigation into spatiotemporal viral dynamics and host genetic regulation. Leveraging non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) data from 1,023,651 pregnant women in Hebei Province (2019-2022), we constructed the largest spatiotemporal virome map during pregnancy. Analysis revealed higher viral diversity and load in plain regions compared to mountainous/coastal areas. Temporally, most viruses exhibited annual prevalence increases with winter peaks. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 4,024 susceptibility loci, potentially modulating immune-related gene expression to influence maternal antiviral immunity. These findings elucidate geographic and genetic influences on viral transmission, demonstrating the value of large-scale NIPT data in infectious disease surveillance. Our study provides critical evidence for establishing pregnancy infection warning systems and precision prevention strategies.
OptoLoop: An optogenetic tool to probe the functional role of genome organization
The genome folds inside the cell nucleus into hierarchical architectural features, such as chromatin loops and domains. If and how this genome organization influences the