Samuele Sala

The invention relates to the field of viral diagnosis. In particular, it is directed to a method for diagnosing a viral infection or a disease associated therewith in a subject comprising the steps of: (a) determining in a sample of said subject the amount of at least one biomarker selected from the group of 3′(,5′-di)deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro furanose derivatives of formula (I) with the exception of 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine (ddhC); and (b) comparing the amount(s) of the at least one biomarkers determined in (a) with a reference, thereby diagnosing a viral infection.Further, the invention is directed to a method for diagnosing a viral infection or a disease associated therewith in a subject comprising the steps of: (A) determining in a sample of said subject the amount of 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine (ddhC); and (B) comparing the amount of the ddhC determined in (A) with a reference, thereby diagnosing a viral infection; wherein the determination in (a) is done by NMR spectroscopy and the sample of the subject is a urine sample of said subject.The invention is also related to a diagnostic means for use in diagnosing a viral infection or a disease associated therewith, said diagnostic means comprising at least one biomarker selected from the group of 3′(,5′-di)deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro furanose derivatives of formula (I) with the exception of 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine (ddhC), but also to a diagnostic means comprising 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine (ddhC) for use in diagnosing a viral infection or a disease associated therewith, wherein the amount of the biomarker is determined done by NMR spectroscopy in a urine sample of a subject.Furthermore, the invention is directed to a device for diagnosing a viral infection or a disease associated therewith in a sample of a subject and to a kit for identifying a subject suffering from a viral infection or a disease associated therewith.