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For the production of dengue-vaccine candidates, empty capsids, or virus-like particles (VLPs), of parvovirus B19 that carry dengue 2-specific epitopes were employed as antigen carriers. Two epitopes (comprising amino acids 352-368 and 386-397) of domain BIII of the envelope glycoprotein were chosen to produce recombinant B19 VLPs for immunization of BALB/c mice. Serum samples from immunized mice revealed that recombinant B19 VLPs elicited strong humoral immune responses. In summary, this B19 VLP-vaccine platform produced high (⩾2.0 × 105) anti-dengue 2 titers and robust (⩽1:120) 50%-plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) titers, which effectively neutralized live dengue 2 virus in PRNT50 assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the prevalence of parvovirus B19 in liver-tissue samples from patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH) and hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAA) and from control subjects. Increase in the prevalence of variant erythrovirus sequences in livers of patients with hepatitis B or C infections; Role of parvovirus B19 as possible etiological agent of FH or HAA.

Develops a sensitive quantitative assay for parvovirus neutralizing capacities of immune sera obtained from individuals infected with B19 using a novel reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction- (RT-PCR) based system. Reliability of the RT-PCR neutralization test; Relationship between adjuvant and anti-virus-like particle response; Common features of sera with high neutralizing capacity.

Discusses the findings of an investigation regarding SEN virus infection in patients with cryptogenic acute liver failure, hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia, or acute and chronic non-A-E hepatitis. Use of polymerase chain reaction amplification to detect SENV variants; Prevalence of SENV among case and control subjects when controlling for geographic region; Influence of infection on disease severity.

A recombinant human parvovirus B19 vaccine (MEDI-491; MedImmune) composed of the VP1 and VP2 capsid proteins and formulated with MF59C.1 adjuvant was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, phase 1 trial. Parvovirus B19-seronegative adults (n=24) received either 2.5 or 25 μg MEDI-491 at 0, 1, and 6 months. MEDI-491 was safe and immunogenic. All volunteers developed neutralizing antibody titers that peaked after the third immunization and were sustained through study day 364. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]