Journal of medical virology
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Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 caused a genital ulcer in a 40-year-old allogenic stem cell recipient, and a secondary herpetic whitlow appeared during 2 months of acyclovir (ACV) therapy. Both genital ulcer, and whitlow were cured 3 months later, but 6 months after recovery the whitlow alone recurred. DNA of the genital, first, and recurrent whitlow isolates showed similar endonuclease digestion fragment profiles. ⋯ The two whitlow isolates showed cutaneous pathogenicity in mouse ear pinna but not midflank, while the genital isolate was pathogenic at both sites, suggesting that temperature adaptation was an important element of pathogenicity in the whitlow. The virus populations of isolates of the genital, and first whitlow were examined by 31, and 82 clones, respectively, and the clones from genital, and whitlow isolates were ACV-sensitive, and -resistant, respectively, showing their homogeneity. The acyclovir-sensitive genital lesion had spread as a TK-deficient/ts herpetic whitlow during ACV treatment, and an apparently TK-deficient virus adapted to the local temperature might have caused the whitlow recurrence.
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Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) is an emerging pathogen with the potential to cause great harm to humans, and there is concern about the potential for a new influenza pandemic. This virus is resistant to the antiviral effects of interferons and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, the mechanism of interferon-independent protective innate immunity is not well understood. ⋯ Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the number of natural killer cells that expressed tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and that had migrated into the cervical lymph node was markedly increased (26-fold) after intranasal treatment with chitin microparticles. In addition, the level of IL-6 and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in the nasal mucosa after H5N1 influenza virus challenge was decreased by prophylactic treatment with chitin microparticles. These results suggest that prophylactic intranasal administration of chitin microparticles enhanced the local accumulation of natural killer cells and suppressed hyper-induction of cytokines, resulting in an innate immune response to prevent pathogenesis of H5N1 influenza virus.
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Individuals with past exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) may reactivate HBV following bone marrow transplantation. Alemtuzumab (CAMPATH)-based reduced intensity conditioning bone marrow transplantation has been associated with a high incidence of viral infections. Lamivudine prophylaxis for HBV should be instituted in this setting. ⋯ The five anti-HBc negative recipients with anti-HBc positive donors remained HBsAg and HBV DNA negative. Although lamivudine prophylaxis prevented HBV reactivation, it is unclear at what stage post-transplantation prophylaxis can be discontinued. Close monitoring of liver function tests (LFTs), HBsAg, and HBV DNA must be undertaken even after stopping antiviral prophylaxis.
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Comparative Study
Association of genetic polymorphism of low-density lipoprotein receptor with chronic viral hepatitis C infection in Han Chinese.
To study the association between the Ava II polymorphism at the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene exon 13 locus and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Han Chinese, 84 chronic HCV-infected patients without anti-viral treatment, and 72 healthy blood donors were studied. Polymerase chain reaction combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the Ava II polymorphism at the LDL-R gene exon 13 locus. The comparisons of genotype distribution and allele frequency between chronic HCV-infected patients and healthy controls showed statistically significant differences (P = 0.045 and P = 0.036, respectively). ⋯ These results suggest that the Han Chinese have Ava II polymorphism at the LDL-R gene exon 13 locus. The Ava II polymorphism at the LDL-R gene exon 13 locus showed a statistically significant difference between chronic HCV-infected patients and healthy controls, indicating a significant contribution of the Ava II polymorphism in susceptibility to HCV infection in these patients. The MAF C in HCV RNA negative group was higher than that in HCV RNA positive group, suggesting that the Ava II polymorphism might also be associated with viremia in patients with HCV infection.
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Comparative Study
Frequent detection of human rhinoviruses, paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses, and bocavirus during acute respiratory tract infections.
Viruses are the major cause of pediatric acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and yet many suspected cases of infection remain uncharacterized. We employed 17 PCR assays and retrospectively screened 315 specimens selected by season from a predominantly pediatric hospital-based population. Before the Brisbane respiratory virus research study commenced, one or more predominantly viral pathogens had been detected in 15.2% (n = 48) of all specimens. ⋯ Genotyping of the HRV VP4/VP2 region resulted in a proposed subdivision of HRV type A into sublineages A1 and A2. Most of the genotyped HAdV strains were found to be type C. This study describes the high microbial burden imposed by HRVs, HMPV, HRSV, HCoVs, and the newly identified virus, HBoV on a predominantly paediatric hospital population with suspected acute respiratory tract infections and proposes a new formulation of viral targets for future diagnostic research studies.