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The covalent attachment of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like polypeptides to cellular and viral proteins regulates numerous processes that enable virus infection, viral genome replication, and the spread of viruses to new hosts. The importance of these protein modifications in the regulation of the life cycle of herpesviruses is underscored by the discovery that all known members of this virus family encode at least one protease that specifically recognizes and disassembles ubiquitin conjugates. The structural and functional characterization of the viral enzymes and the identification of their viral and cellular substrates is providing valuable insights into the biology of viral infection and increasing evidence suggests that the viral deconjugases may also play a role in malignant transformation.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics and outcome of critically burn patients with pulmonary HSV reactivation.Retrospective, single-center cohort study in a burn critical care unit in a tertiary center, including all consecutive severely burn patients with bronchoalveolar lavage performed for pneumoniae suspicion and screened for HSV from January 2013 and April 2017. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with HSV reactivation and outcomes.94 patients were included, mean age was 51 (39-64) years; median total body surface area burned was 36 (25-54)% and ICU mortality 38%. Fifty-five patients (59%) had pulmonary HSV reactivation and 30 (55%) were treated with acyclovir. Patients with HSV reactivation were more severely ill with higher SOFA score at admission compared to patient without HSV reactivation (6 [3-8] vs. 2 [1-4], p0.0001 respectively). In multivariate analysis, sex, SOFA score at admission and smoke inhalation were significantly associated with HSV reactivation. Only septic shock was associated with 90-day mortality when HSV reactivation was not.Pulmonary HSV reactivation is frequent among severely ill burn patients. Initial severity and smoke inhalation are risk factors. Antiviral treatment was not associated with outcome.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical methods were used to diagnose round cell tumors in 2 subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis with marked anemia. Although wild-born, both individuals were placed under human care while juveniles in a Brazilian aquarium. Both pinnipeds were PCR tested for herpesvirus, and 1 was infected with otariid gammaherpesvirus 5 (OtHV-5), previously described in a subantarctic fur seal stranded in Brazil. Although some gammaherpesviruses can cause sarcomas and other neoplasms, it was not possible to definitively associate OtHV-5 with the neoplasm. To our knowledge, these are the first neoplasm records in subantarctic fur seals.

Human herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) belong to the Herpesviridae family. At present, no vaccine or curative treatment is available for the prevention of HSV infections. Here, we review the cell surface receptors that are recognized by HSV's glycoprotein B, glycoprotein C, glycoprotein D, and the glycoprotein H – glycoprotein L complex to facilitate entry into host cells. These receptors include heparan sulfate (HS), herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), and nectin-1/-2, 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate (3-OS HS).

The virions of all enveloped viruses, including those of the Herpesviridae, must bind to the cell surface then undergo a process of membrane fusion between the cell plasma membrane and the virus particle envelope. As for all herpesviruses, glycoproteins in the virion envelope are the modus operandi of these events.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), discovered in 1964, is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. EBV has a lymphoid tropism with transforming capacities using different oncogenic viral proteins. This virus has two replication cycles: a lytic cycle mainly occuring during primary infection and a latent cycle allowing viral persistence into host memory B cells. More than 90% of adults are seropositive for EBV worldwide, with a past history of asymptomatic or mild primary infection. EBV infection can sometimes cause life-threatening complications such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and lead to the development of lymphoproliferative disorders or cancers. Risk factors associated with these phenotypes have been recently described through the study of monogenic primary immune deficiencies with EBV susceptibility. We here review the virological and immunological aspects of EBV infection and EBV-related complications with an overview of current available treatments.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:38:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-12-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) River dolphins are a highly threatened polyphyletic group comprised of four odontocete families: Iniidae, Pontoporiidae, Lipotidae, and Platanistidae, the first two endemic to South America. To address the knowledge gap regarding infectious agents in this cetacean group, we surveyed the presence of herpesviruses by PCR in skin and/or blood samples of live-captured Amazon (Inia geoffrensis, n = 25) and Bolivian (Inia boliviensis, n = 22) river dolphins of the Amazon basin and in selected tissue samples of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei, n = 27) stranded or bycaught in southeastern Brazil. Additionally, available franciscana tissue samples were examined by histopathology. Herpesvirus DNA was amplified in 13 Bolivian river dolphins (59.1%, 95% CI 38.5–79.6%) and 14 franciscanas (51.9%, 95% CI 33.0–70.7%). All Amazon river dolphins were herpesvirus-negative. Two different herpesviruses were found in Bolivian river dolphins: a previously known gammaherpesvirus detected in blood and/or skin samples of all positive individuals and a novel alphaherpesvirus in the skin of one animal. A new gammaherpesvirus was found in several franciscana samples—the first herpesvirus recorded in Pontoporiidae. Intranuclear inclusion bodies consistent with herpesvirus were observed in the lymph node of one franciscana. The high divergence among the obtained herpesviruses and those previously described can be explained by viral-host coevolution, and by the fact that these populations are fairly isolated. Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology Department of Pathology School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences University of São Paulo, SP Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, AM Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Amazonas, AM Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos, CE Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, AM Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista–UNESP, Campus do Litoral Paulista, SP Instituto Biopesca, SP Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Arboretveien 57 Veterinary Department School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Universidad Europea de Madrid, C/Tajo S/N, Villaviciosa de Odón Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista–UNESP, Campus do Litoral Paulista, SP FAPESP: 2016/20956-0 FAPESP: 2018/25069-7 CNPq: 304999-18

In spring 2020, a severe disease outbreak with high morbidity and mortality was observed in a collection of 15 Horsfield’s tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii). Affected tortoises showed upper respiratory- and gastrointestinal tract signs, including rhinitis and stomatitis. Testudinid herpesvirus 1 (TeHV1) and Mycoplasma spp. were detected by PCR in oral swabs of affected animals. Histological examination of one deceased animal showed intranuclear inclusion bodies typical for herpesvirus infections in liver, spleen and oesophagus. The virus was likely introduced into the collection 2 years earlier by a clinically healthy Horsfield’s tortoise that was tested positive for TeHV1 by PCR.

Background High-throughput next-generation sequencing (HT-NGS) has the potential to detect a large variety of pathogens; however, the application of HT-NGS in lung transplant (LTx) recipients remains limited. We aimed to evaluate the value of HT-NGS for pathogen detection and diagnosis of pulmonary infection during early-stage post-lung transplantation. Methods In this retrospective study, we enrolled 51 LTx recipients who underwent lung transplantation between January 2020 and December 2020. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected for the detection of pathogens using both HT-NGS and conventional microbiological testing. The detection of pathogens and diagnostic performance of HT-NGS were compared with that of conventional methods. Results HT-NGS provided a higher positive rate of pathogen detection than conventional microbiological testing (88.24% vs. 76.47%). The most common bacteria detected via HT-NGS during early-stage post-lung transplantation were Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella, while all fungi were Candida and all viruses were Herpesvirus. Uncommon pathogens, including Strongyloides, Legionella, and Mycobacterium abscesses were identified by HT-NGS. The sensitivity of HT-NGS for diagnosing pulmonary infection was significantly higher than that of conventional microbiological testing (97.14% vs. 68.57%; P Conclusion HT-NGS is a highly sensitive technique for pathogen detection, which may provide diagnostic advantages, especially in LTx recipients, contributing to the optimization of treatment regimens against pulmonary infection during early-stage post-lung transplantation.

To estimate graft function after kidney transplantation during active herpesviruses or superinfection Materials and methods. The study included 32 patients (men 21, women 11) with end-stage chronic kidney disease. The median age was 43 years. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) DNAs were screened by RT-PCR in the donor's transplant biopsy, and recipients peripheral blood and urine after kidney transplantation (KT) on 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 months. Antiviral antibodies (IgM and IgG) were also screened by Enzyme-linked immunoassay analysis (ELISA) along with PCR. The 500 or less copies of viral DNA per 105 nuclear cells or 1 ml of urine was considered as low, more than 1000 copies high.On the first month after KT CMV DNA was detected in 50% of pts., EBV DNA in 40% and HHV-6 DNA in 33%. During first year after KT two or three viruses simultaneously were found in 12 recipients: CMV, EBV, and HHV-6 were detected in 5 recipients; CMV and EBV in 4 patients; CMV and HHV-6 in 2 pts; EBV and HHV-6 in 1 pt. Graft dysfunction was observed in 9 patients with a high concentration of viral DNA of one, two or three viruses simultaneously. An upraise of the concentration of virus DNA (CMV, EBV and HHV 6) was detected primarily in the urine, while in the blood its concentration was less than 500 cop or undetectable. Renal dysfunction was not observed on the background of low concentrations of viral DNA in urine and blood. However, with an increase of DNA concentration, an impaired graft function in 8 of 12 patients appeared. Low viral DNA level proved to be a background for another virus activation or bacterial/fungal superinfection.Graft dysfunction occurs at high viral DNA levels detection during mono-or superinfection. Low viral load can serve as a background for another virus activation and/or bacterial/fungal superinfection.Цель. Оценить функцию почечного трансплантата при сочетанной герпесвирусной инфекции. Материалы и методы. В исследование включены 32 пациента (мужчин 21, женщин 11) с хронической болезнью почек терминальной стадии (ХБПС5). Медиана возраста 43 года. Методом иммуноферментного анализа определяли противовирусные иммуноглобулины, методом полимеразной цепной реакции концентрацию ДНК цитомегаловируса, вируса Эпштейна-Барр (ВЭБ) и вируса герпеса человека 6-го типа (ВГЧ-6) в периферической крови, моче у реципиента до и через 1, 2, 4, 6 мес, 1 год после трансплантации аллогенной почки (ТАП) и в биоптате трансплантата донора. Концентрация ДНК менее 500 коп/105 клеток или в 1 мл мочи считалась низкой, более 1000 коп высокой. Результаты. В 1-й месяц после ТАП выявлена ДНК ЦМВ в 50% случаев, ДНК ВЭБ в 40% и ДНК ВГЧ-6 в 33%. У 12 реципиентов обнаружены одновременно маркеры двух или трех вирусов. Из них у 5 реципиентов ДНК ЦМВ, ВЭБ и ВГЧ-6, у 4 ДНК ЦМВ и ВЭБ, у 2 ДНК ЦМВ и ВГЧ-6, у 1 ВЭБ и ВГЧ-6. Повышение концентрации ДНК выявлялось прежде всего в моче, при этом в крови концентрация оставалась низкой или вообще не определялась. У 9 пациентов наблюдалось нарушение функции трансплантата при высокой концентрации ДНК одного или сразу двух/трех вирусов в моче. При низкой вирусной нагрузке как в моче, так и в крови не отмечалась дисфункция трансплантата, но у 8 из 12 реципиентов на фоне низкой концентрации одного вируса выявлялось повышение концентрации другого или присоединение бактериальной, грибковой инфекции. Заключение. Высокая концентрация ДНК в моче одного или нескольких герпесвирусов указывает на дисфункцию почечного трансплантата. Низкая вирусная нагрузка может служить фоном для присоединения другой вирусной и бактериальной инфекции.

BACKGROUND: The annual incidence of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is 1:250–500 thousand in developed countries, which makes it the most common viral cause of encephalitis. Encephalitis caused by HSV-1 probably accounts for most of the cases in the Herpesviridae family and typically affects older children. CASE REPORT: An atypical presentation of pediatric herpetic encephalitis is reported. The child presented with recurrent seizures that were initially unresponsive to several anticonvulsant drugs. EEG and MRI of the brain were not effective for diagnosis. PCR analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid indicated positivity for HSV DNA and was crucial for the diagnosis as a highly sensitive and specific test. CONCLUSION: Based on the clinical presentation of the child, viral encephalitis was deemed to be the most likely aetiological condition.

A mortality event among recently captured feral donkeys ( Equus asinus) occurred in south-central Utah in 2016. The deaths were sporadic, and clinical signs were indicative of respiratory disease, likely associated with an infectious etiology. Ten of 13 donkeys autopsied had moderate-to-severe interstitial fibrosing pneumonia, and one had pyogranulomatous pneumonia. Consensus PCRs directed toward the DNA polymerase and DNA packaging terminase subunit 1 for herpesviruses were performed followed by sequencing of the PCR amplicons and phylogenetic analysis. Asinine herpesvirus 4 (AsHV4) and 5 (AsHV5) were consistently identified in lung tissues of affected donkeys. No other herpesviruses were identified, and herpesviral DNA was not detected in lung tissues of 2 donkeys without evidence of respiratory disease. The detection of asinine gammaherpesviruses may have been associated with the lesions described. AsHV4 and AsHV5 have been reported in previous studies as novel gammaherpesviruses based on sequences obtained from donkeys with interstitial pneumonia and marked syncytial cell formation. Our findings suggest that the association of asinine gammaherpesviruses with respiratory conditions in equids deserves further attention.

Background: The Herpesviridae family plays a significant etiological role in central nervous system viral infections during primary infection or reactivation from a latent form. Early detection is crucial because prescribing some antivirals can prevent severe side effects or life-threatening conditions. Methods: In this study, 251 CSF specimens were collected from patients with clinical suspicion of viral encephalitis in Pars Hospital, Tehran, Iran. DNA was extracted, and a multiplex PCR was designed to investigate the presence of herpes simplex virus-1, herpes simplex virus-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Results: Overall, 59 cases of the 251 CSF samples were positive for multiplex PCR (23.5%). The most frequent positive findings were EBV and HSV, with a prevalence of 10.3% and 8.7% (5.5% HSV-1 and 3.1% HSV-2), respectively. Four co-infections were also seen in this study. Conclusions: This multiplex PCR assay detects simultaneously different herpesviruses in CSF samples of patients with suspected encephalitis in 2 rounds of PCR amplification; therefore, it is a reliable and cost-saving diagnostic method for evaluating patients infected with herpesvirus with neurological disorders.

На даний час відомі 8 патогенних герпесвірусів: два типи вірусу простого герпесу (HSV-1, HSV-2), вірус вітряної віспи, вірус Епштейна — Барр, цитомегаловірус, HHV-6, HHV-7 і HHV-8. Обидва типи вірусу простого герпесу є членами сімейства Herpesviridae й характеризуються здатністю до латенції після первинної інфекції й можливістю реактивації в майбутньому. Після літичної інфекції на поверхні слизової оболонки HSV може інфікувати сенсорні нейрони, спричинюючи латентну інфекцію, при якій реплікація вірусу припиняється. Після того латентний вірус може повторно активувати цикл реплікації з наступним поверненням у периферичні тканини та розвитком рецидиву інфекції. Протигерпетичні лікарські засоби, що використовують сьогодні, включають ацикловір, цидофовір, фамцикловір, фоскарнет, ганцикловір, ідоксуридин, пенцикловір, трифлуридин, валацикловір, валганцикловір і відарабін. Інозину пранобекс є ще одним протигерпетичним препаратом із прямою противірусною та імуномодулюючою активністю. Інозину пранобекс може поліпшувати клінічний перебіг рецидивуючої герпетичної інфекції і прискорювати нормалізацію імунологічних показників.

Background. The issue of the prevalence of opportunistic infections in persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains relevant. Among opportunistic infections, in particular, we would like to note Herpesviridae family (herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2), human herpesvirus type 3 (varicella zoster virus), human herpesvirus type 4 (Epstein-Barr virus), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human herpesvirus type 5, human herpesvirus type 6 and parvovirus B19. Clinically marked herpes and parvovirus infections are frequent causes of systemic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This is a serious problem, especially for persons with long-term immunosuppression, who have IBD, and special attention in this aspect is paid to cytomegalovirus infection. Clinical activity of CMV-associated IBD, its duration and severity, as well as the use of steroids and anti-TNF-α agents were identified as risk factors for adverse outcomes. It is important not only to detect the presence of viruses in the patient’s body, but also to clarify their etiological role in the development of the disease. According to the current European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) protocols, all patients with IBD are recommended to be screened in hormone resistance, loss of effect from maintenance therapy and severe attacks of the disease. The addition of active CMV infection to IBD may likely be one of the causes of resistance to hormone and immunosuppressive therapy, as well as biological drugs, but this issue requires further researches. The purpose was to evaluate the frequency of detecting isolated cytomegalovirus infection and mixed (herpes and parvovirus B19) viral infections in patients with IBD and their influence on the disease activity. Materials and methods. One hundred and eighty-nine patients (98 women and 91 men) with IBD (102 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 87 with Crohn’s disease (CD)) were examined. The age of patients was from 16 to 63 years (mean age (41.4 ± 4.8) years). In addition to standard clinical endoscopic examinations according to ECCO guidelines, disease activity was assessed by indicators of highly sensitive C-reactive protein, homocysteine, vitamin D in blood serum, albumin in urine, calprotectin and lactoferrin in feces. All patients underwent serological blood test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific antibodies to herpesviruses and IgG/IgM antibodies to parvovirus B19, determination of DNA of herpes simplex viruses types 1, 2, 6, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes zoster by a polymerase chain reaction in blood and tissues. All patients underwent determination of blood cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukins 1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -18). Results. Viral (herpes and parvovirus B19) infections in patients with IBD occurred in 81 cases (42.8 %): in 35 (40.2 %) of 87 patients with CD and in 46 (45.0 %) of 102 — with UC. Among patients with cytomegalovirus infection alone, 21 (11.1 % of the total number and 25.9 % of infected persons) suffered from UC and 16 (8.5 % of the total number and 19.7 % of infected persons) — from CD. In 26 (13.8 % of the total number and 32.1 % of infected persons) cases, mixed viral infections were detected — in 13 patients with CD and 13 with UC (6.9 % of the total number and 16.0 % of infected persons). In patients with IBD, the frequency of detecting isolated cytomegalovirus infection is 19.5 % of the total number and 45.6 % of infected persons; mixed viral infection was found in 13.8 % of the total number and 32.1 % of infected patients. The clinical endoscopic picture (resistance to basic therapy, the mismatch between the endoscopic picture and the pathomorphological conclusion), as well as laboratory data, indicate a more severe course of diseases in the presence of cytomegalovirus infection. Conclusion. The data obtained allow us to recommend, in addition to ECCO protocols, the determination of the presence of opportunistic (herpes and parvovirus B19) infections in patients with newly diagnosed IBD before starting basic therapy, without waiting for the development of disease forms refractory to therapy., Актуальность. Вопрос распространенности оппортунистических инфекций у лиц с воспалительными заболеваниями кишечника (ВЗК) остается актуальным. Особое внимание среди оппортунистических инфекций уделяется цитомегаловирусной (ЦМВ) инфекции. Клиническая активность ЦМВ-ассоциированного ВЗК, его длительность и степень тяжести, а также использование стероидов и анти-ФНО-α-агентов были идентифицированы как факторы риска неблагоприятных исходов. В диагностике ЦМВ важно не просто выявить наличие вируса в организме пациента, но и уточнить его этиологическую роль в развитии заболевания. В настоящее время рекомендуется проведение скрининга на ЦМВ у всех пациентов с ВЗК при гормональной резистентности, потере эффекта от поддерживающей терапии и при тяжелых эпизодах заболевания. Цель исследования: оценка частоты выявления изолированной цитомегаловирусной инфекции и смешанных (герпес и парвовирус В19) вирусных инфекций у пациентов с ВЗК и их влияние на активность заболевания. Материалы и методы. Обследовано 189 пациентов с ВЗК, 102 с язвенным колитом и 87 с болезнью Крона, среди них 98 женщин и 91 мужчина. Возраст пациентов составлял от 16 до 63 лет, в среднем (41,4 ± 4,8) года. Кроме стандартного клинико-эндоскопического обследования в соответствии с положениями Европейской организации по изучению болезни Крона и язвенного колита (ЕССО), активность заболевания оценивалась по показателям высокочувствительного С-реактивного белка, гомоцистеина, витамина D в сыворотке крови, альбумина в моче, кальпротектина и лактоферрина в кале. Всем пациентам проведено серологическое исследование крови методом иммуноферментного анализа на специфические антитела к герпесвирусам и IgG-/IgM-антитела к парвовирусу В19, а также определение ДНК вирусов простого герпеса 1, 2, 6-го типов, вируса Эпштейна — Барр, цитомегаловируса, герпеса зостер методом полимеразной цепной реакции. У всех пациентов также определяли уровни цитокинов в крови (фактор некроза опухоли α, интерлейкины 1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -18). Результаты. У пациентов с ВЗК частота выявления изолированной цитомегаловирусной инфекции составляет, по нашим данным, 19,5 %, а с учетом смешанных поражений — 29,6 %. Клинико-эндоскопическая картина (рефрактерность к базисной терапии, несоответствие между эндоскопической картиной и патоморфологическим заключением), а также данные лабораторных исследований указывают на более тяжелое течение заболевания при наличии цитомегаловирусной инфекции. Выводы. Полученные данные позволяют нам рекомендовать в дополнение к протоколам ЕССО определение наличия оппортунистических инфекций у пациентов с впервые выявленным ВЗК до начала базисной терапии, не дожидаясь развития рефрактерных к лечению форм заболевания., Актуальність. Питання поширеності опортуністичних інфекцій в осіб iз запальними захворюваннями кишечника (ЗЗК) залишається актуальним. Особливу увагу серед опортуністичних інфекцій приділяється цитомегаловірусній (ЦМВ) інфекції. Клінічна активність ЦМВ-асоційованого ЗЗК, його тривалість і ступінь тяжкості, а також використання стероїдів і анти-ФНП-α-агентів були ідентифіковані як фактори ризику несприятливих наслідків. У діагностиці ЦМВ важливо не просто виявити наявність вірусу в організмі пацієнта, але й уточнити його етіологічну роль у розвитку захворювання. У цей час рекомендується проведення скринінгу на ЦМВ у всіх пацієнтів iз ЗЗК при гормональній резистентності, втрати ефекту від підтримуючої терапії та при тяжких епізодах захворювання. Мета дослідження: оцінка частоти виявлення ізольованої цитомегаловірусної інфекції і змішаних (герпес та парвовірус В19) вірусних інфекцій у пацієнтів iз ЗЗК та їх вплив на активність захворювання. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 189 осіб iз ЗЗК, 102 з виразковим колітом і 87 з хворобою Крона, серед них 98 жінок та 91 чоловік. Вік пацієнтів становив від 16 до 63 років, у середньому (41,4 ± 4,8) року. Крім стандартного клініко-ендоскопічного обстеження відповідно до положень Європейської організації з вивчення хвороби Крона і виразкового коліту (ЕССО), активність захворювання оцінювалася за показниками високочутливого С-реактивного білка, гомоцистеїну, вітаміну D у сироватці крові, альбуміну в сечі, кальпротектину і лактоферину в калі. Усім пацієнтам проведено серологічне дослідження крові методом імуноферментного аналізу на специфічні антитіла до герпесвірусів і IgG-/IgM-антитіла до парвовірусу В19, а також визначення ДНК вірусів простого герпесу 1, 2, 6-го типів, вірусу Епштейна — Барр, цитомегаловірусу, герпесу зостер методом полімеразної ланцюгової реакції. В усіх пацієнтів також визначали рівні цитокінів у крові (фактор некрозу пухлини α, інтерлейкіни 1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -18). Результати. У пацієнтів iз ЗЗК частота виявлення ізольованої цитомегаловірусної інфекції становить, за нашими даними, 19,5 %, а з урахуванням змішаних уражень — 29,6 %. Клініко-ендоскопічна картина (рефрактерність до базисної терапії, невідповідність між ендоскопічною картиною і патоморфологічним висновком), а також дані лабораторних досліджень вказують на більш тяжкий перебіг захворювання за наявності цитомегаловірусної інфекції. Висновки. Отримані дані дозволяють нам рекомендувати на додаток до протоколiв ЕССО визначення наявності опортуністичних інфекцій у пацієнтів iз вперше виявленим ЗЗК до початку базисної терапії, не чекаючи на розвиток рефрактерних до лiкування форм захворювання.

Microglia are the primary cellular source of type I interferons (I-IFNs) in the brain upon neurotropic virus infection. Although the I-IFN-based antiviral innate immune response is crucial for eliminating viruses, overproduction led to immune disorders. Therefore, the relatively long-lasting I-IFNs must be precisely controlled, but the regulatory mechanism for the innate antiviral response in microglia remains largely unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are being recognized as crucial factors in numerous diseases, but their regulatory roles in the innate antiviral response in microglia are undefined. Methods: The high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed to obtain differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) in primary microglia infected with or without the neurotropic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We selected four DELs ranked in the top 15 in basic level and their fold change induced by HSV-1, i.e., FPKMHSV-1/FPKMCells.We subsequently found a key lncRNA affecting the innate antiviral response of microglia significantly. We next used dual-luciferase reporter assays, bioinformatical tools, and truncation mutants of both lncRNA and targeted proteins to elucidate the downstream and upstream mechanism of action of lncRNA. Further, we established microglia-specific knock-in (KI) mice to investigate the role of lncRNA in vivo. Results: We identified a long intergenic non-coding RNA, linc-AhRA, involved in regulating the innate antiviral response in murine microglia. linc-AhRA is activated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and restricts I-IFN production in microglia upon neurotropic herpesvirus infection and innate immune stimulation. Mechanistically, linc-AhRA binds to both tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) through its conserved 117nt fragment as a molecular scaffold to enhance TRIM27-TBK1 interaction. This interaction facilitates the TRIM27-mediated ubiquitination of TBK1 and results in ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of TBK1. Consequently, linc-AhRA suppresses I-IFN production through facilitating TBK1 degradation and limits the microglial innate immune response against neurotropic herpesvirus infection. Microglia-specific KI of linc-AhRA mice shows a weakened antiviral immune response upon neurotropic herpesvirus challenge due to a reduction of TBK1 in microglia. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that linc-AhRA is a negative regulator of I-IFN production in microglia to avoid excessive autoimmune responses. These findings uncover a previously unappreciated role for lncRNA conserved fragments in the innate antiviral response, providing a strong foundation for developing nucleotide drugs based on conserved functional fragments within lncRNAs., Theranostics, 11(19), pp. 9623-9651; 2021

Periodontitis is a multi-etiologic infection characterized clinically by pathologic loss of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Herpesviruses and specific bacterial species are major periodontal pathogens that cooperate synergistically in producing severe periodontitis. Cellular immunity against herpesviruses and humoral immunity against bacteria are key periodontal host defenses. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are modifiers of periodontal disease severity. MicroRNAs are a class of noncoding, gene expression-based, posttranscriptional regulatory RNAs of great importance for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Aberrant expression of microRNAs has been associated with several medical diseases. Periodontal tissue cells and herpesviruses elaborate several microRNAs that are of current research interest. This review attempts to conceptualize the role of periodontal microRNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. The diagnostic potential of salivary microRNAs is also addressed. Employment of microRNA technology in periodontics represents an interesting new preventive and therapeutic possibility.

Congenital cytomegalovirus is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family that causes intrauterine infection. Infants can be either asymptomatic or symptomatic at birth. Severe outcome was defined as: neonatal death and/or severe neurodevelopmental symptoms and/or severe cognitive impairment. This study aims at showing the antimicrobial effect of the modified 3-mix paste in the treatment of acute apical periodontitis in a female child patient with congenital cytomegalovirus, in a single session. The 2-year and 3-month-old female patient has symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection and ongoing long-term side effects. At the stemmatological level, the patient presented with multiple carious lesions, reversible pulpitis and acute apical periodontitis. Also, pulpectomies were performed on teeth 61, 62, 51, 52, 81, 71, 54 and 64 in a single session, under general anesthesia. In the pulpectomy of tooth 61, the intracanal obturation material was applied with a modified (with a composition of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and cephalexin) 3Mix paste, using macrogol and propylene glycol as vehicles in the apical third of the tooth, and oxide zinc and eugenol in the middle and cervical third of the tooth. It was decided that the reconstruction of the tooth would be performed with fiberglass posts and resin restorations based on addition silicone impressions. Conclusion: At 30 days and 6 months after treatment, the patient shows no evidence of pain, swelling/abscess or fistula, and there is no sign of pathologic tooth mobility.

Background Ultra high-risk (UHR) criteria were introduced to identify people at imminent risk of developing psychosis. To improve prognostic accuracy, additional clinical and biological risk factors have been researched. Associations between psychotic disorders and infections with Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesviridae have been found. It is unknown if exposure to those pathogens increases the risk of transition to psychosis in UHR cohorts. Methods We conducted a long-term follow-up of 96 people meeting UHR criteria, previously seen at the Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) clinic, a specialized service in Melbourne, Australia. Transition to psychosis was assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of the At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS) and state public mental health records. The relationship between IgG antibodies to Herpesviridae (HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, EBV, VZV) and Toxoplasma gondii and risk for transition was examined with Cox regression models. Results Mean follow-up duration was 6.46 (±3.65) years. Participants who transitioned to psychosis (n = 14) had significantly higher antibody titers for Toxoplasma gondii compared to those who did not develop psychosis (p = 0.03). After adjusting for age, gender and year of baseline assessment, seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii was associated with a 3.6-fold increase in transition hazard in multivariate Cox regression models (HR = 3.6; p = 0.036). No significant association was found between serostatus for Herpesviridae and risk of transition. Conclusions Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii may contribute to the manifestation of positive psychotic symptoms and increase the risk of transitioning to psychosis in UHR individuals.

Background: Chronic haemodialysis patients are at high risk for infection because the process of haemodialysis (HM) requires vascular access for prolonged periods. The humanCytomegalo Virus (CMV) is a DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family, Betaherpsvirnae subfamily and Cytomegalo virus gender, known as Human Herpes Virus Type 5, one of the main causes of morbidity. Acute CMV infection is characterized by system-wide viremia after which latency and lifelong persistence is established in selected cells such as CD34+ monocytes and hematopoietic progenitor cells in humans. Objective: The work was designed for early detection of CMV infection and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients on HD. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 80 patients under regular HD due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) had participated in the study from HD Unite of Nasr City Health Insurance Hospital in Cairo in the period from June 2019 to December 2019. Results: In the present study, patients were divided into three groups, first group 78 patients were positive for CMV IgG (97.5%), second group 11 patients were positive for CMV IgM (13.8%) and third group 10 patients were positive for both IgG and IgM (12.3%). In our studythe females have more CMV antibodies. In the present study, patients with metabolic syndrome were 68 (85%). Patients who had MetS and CMV IgG were 68 (100%). The relationship between MetS and CMV IgG is statistically proved. Conclusion: the importance of early investigation for metabolic syndrome components especially in patients who are immunocompromised like HD patients because of the high prevalence of both chronic CMV infection and reactivation.

Autophagy is an important component of the innate immune response that restricts infection by different types of pathogens. Viruses have developed multiple strategies to avoid autophagy to complete their replication cycle and promote spreading to new hosts. Here we report that the ubiquitin deconjugases encoded in the N-terminal domain of the large tegument proteins of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi Sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), but not herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), regulate selective autophagy by inhibiting the activity of the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62. We found that all the homologs bind to and deubiquitinate SQSTM1/p62 but with variable efficiency, which correlates with their capacity to prevent the colocalization of LC3 with SQSTM1/p62 aggregates and promote the accumulation of a model autophagy substrate. The findings highlight important differences in the strategies by which herpesviruses interfere with selective autophagy.

Herpesviruses are known to cause a diversity of clinical syndromes, ranging from minor cutaneous lesions to life-threatening illnesses, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Here, we investigate retrospectively the contribution of five human herpesviruses, including herpes simplex virus Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in serum samples collected from measles suspected patients with at least fever and rash. Sera specimens were first tested for serological evidence of measles and rubella virus infection by ELISA, and DNA extracted from an aliquot of each clinical specimen for molecular detection of human herpes viruses by RT-qPCR. A total of 3,358 specimens have been collected and tested for herpes viruses. Nearly half of the overall suspected cases were children younger than 5 years (49.4%). Of the 3,358 sera tested by ELISA, 227 (6.7%) were measles laboratory confirmed and 152 (4.5%) rubella laboratory confirmed. Herpes viruses were detected in 1763 (52.5%), and VZV was the most common with 44.3%, followed by EBV with 10.7%. Coinfections were found in 352 (20%) cases, and the most common co-detections were VZV/EBV or VZV/CMV (169 and 81 cases, respectively). A clear seasonal pattern of VZV, EBV, and CMV identification was observed, with the highest incidence between February and April each year. Results of this investigation provide more insights into cutaneous rash syndrome etiologies in patients sampled in the framework of measles/rubella surveillance in Senegal, which is useful for the guidance of both case definition revision and clinical practice as well as for public health policy.

Introduction . Immunodeficiency underlying the development of severe forms of new coronavirus infection may be the result of mixed infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, including Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). The aim is to study the prevalence and epidemiological features of co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and EBV. Material and methods . A cross-sectional randomized study was conducted in Moscow region from March to May 2020. Two groups were examined for EBV-markers: hospital patients ( n = 95) treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection and blood donors ( n = 92). Results . With equal EBV prevalence the detection of active infection markers in donors (10.9%) was noticeably lower than in SARS-CoV-2 patients (80%). Significant differences in this indicator were also found when patients from subgroups with interstitial pneumonia with the presence (96.6%) and absence (97.2%) of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharyngeal smear were compared with the subgroup of patients with mild COVID-19 (43.3%). The average IgG VCA and IgG EBNA positivity coefficients in donor group were higher than in patient group ( p < 0.05). Patients with active EBV infection markers were significantly more likely to have pneumonia, exceeding the reference values of ALT and the relative number of monocytes (odds ratio – 23.6; 3.5; 9.7, respectively). Discussion . The present study examined the incidence and analyzed epidemiological features of active EBV infection in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion . A significantly higher rate of detection of active EBV infection markers in hospital patients indicates a combined participation SARS-CoV-2 and EBV in the development of interstitial pneumonia. Low levels of specific IgG EBV serve as predictors of EBV reactivation. Exceeding the reference values of ALT and the relative number of monocytes in patients should serve as a reason for examination for active EBV infection markers.

The hypothesis that infectious agents, particularly herpesviruses, contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis has been investigated for decades but has long engendered controversy. In the past 3 years, several studies in mouse models, human tissue models, and population cohorts have reignited interest in this hypothesis. Collectively, these studies suggest that many of the hallmarks of AD, like amyloid beta production and neuroinflammation, can arise as a protective response to acute infection that becomes maladaptive in the case of chronic infection. We place this work in its historical context and explore its etiological implications.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a multifactorial disease with a variety of genetic and environmental risk factors, but the exact mechanism of AAA formation and progression is still not well understood. The present study investigated the frequency of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and papillomavirus types 6 and 11 (HPV6 and HPV11), their impact on clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases, and their possible association with inflammation in patients with AAA and healthy volunteers. Genotyping of CMV UL75, EBV LMP-1, and HPV6, and HPV11 E6 was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while the viral DNA loads were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The CMV UL75 was detected more frequently in the blood of patients with AAA than in the blood of healthy volunteers (32.7% vs. 6.3%, p

Pathogen-induced cancers account for 15% of human tumors and are a growing concern for endangered wildlife. Fibropapillomatosis is an expanding virally and environmentally co-induced sea turtle tumor epizootic. Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is implicated as a causative virus, but its transmission method and specific role in oncogenesis and progression is unclear. We applied environmental (e)DNA-based viral monitoring to assess viral shedding as a direct means of transmission, and the relationship between tumor burden, surgical resection and ChHV5 shedding. To elucidate the abundance and transcriptional status of ChHV5 across early, established, regrowth and internal tumors we conducted genomics and transcriptomics. We determined that ChHV5 is shed into the water column, representing a likely transmission route, and revealed novel temporal shedding dynamics and tumor burden correlations. ChHV5 was more abundant in the water column than in marine leeches. We also revealed that ChHV5 is latent in fibropapillomatosis, including early stage, regrowth and internal tumors; higher viral transcription is not indicative of poor patient outcome, and high ChHV5 loads predominantly arise from latent virus. These results expand our knowledge of the cellular and shedding dynamics of ChHV5 and can provide insights into temporal transmission dynamics and viral oncogenesis not readily investigable in tumors of terrestrial species.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus that causes chickenpox and shingles. The biological mechanisms underpinning the multidecadal latency of VZV in the body and subsequent viral reactivation—which occurs in approximately 30% of individuals—are largely unknown. Because chickenpox and shingles are endemic worldwide, understanding the relationship between VZV transmission and reactivation is important for informing disease treatment and control. While chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable childhood disease with a rich legacy of research, shingles is not a notifiable disease in most countries. To date, population-level studies of shingles have had to rely on small-scale hospital or community-level data sets. Here, we examined chickenpox and shingles notifications from Thailand and found strong seasonal incidence in both diseases, with a 3-month lag between peak chickenpox transmission season and peak shingles reactivation. We tested and fitted 14 mathematical models examining the biological drivers of chickenpox and shingles over an 8-year period to estimate rates of VZV transmission, reactivation, and immunity-boosting, wherein reexposure to VZV boosts VZV-specific immunity to reinforce protection against shingles. The models suggested that the seasonal cycles of chickenpox and shingles have different underlying mechanisms, with ambient levels of ultraviolet radiation being correlated with shingles reactivation.

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and key species for ecosystem functioning, providing a wide range of ecosystem services, from pest control to seed dispersal. Chiropterans are known for hosting a large diversity of viruses, in some cases with little or no effect to their health. Here, we report on the results of a screening for DNA (Herpesviridae) and RNA viruses (Rhabdovirus and Pneumovirus), finding a high prevalence and wide diversity of both Beta- and Gamma-Herpesvirus in insectivorous and hematophagous bats of the southern cone of South America. Our findings suggest that bats in the southern neotropics harbor a high diversity of herpesviruses and, at least in some cases, the viral community in the bat species is more strongly associated with ecological traits of the hosts, rather than their taxonomy. The presence of a separate clade into the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily in the common vampire bat suggests the independent circulation of herpesviruses in hematophagous and insectivorous bats and highlights the properness of these viruses to track vampire bats’ population structure for rabies studies. Hence, we suggest that as other pathogens viruses may be used to track the population dynamics of their hosts, including movement and demographics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10393-021-01530-2.

Human herpesviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that are classified into nine species. More than 90% of adults are ever infected with one or more herpesviruses. The symptoms of infection with different herpesviruses are diverse ranging from mild or asymptomatic infections to deadly diseases such as aggressive lymphomas and sarcomas. Timely and accurate detection of herpesvirus infection is critical for clinical management and treatment. In this study, we established a single-tube nonuple qPCR assay for detection of all nine herpesviruses using a 2-D multiplex qPCR method with a house-keeping gene as the internal control. The novel assay can detect and distinguish different herpesviruses with 30 to 300 copies per 25 µL single-tube reaction, and does not cross-react with 20 other human viruses, including DNA and RNA viruses. The robustness of the novel assay was evaluated using 170 clinical samples. The novel assay showed a high consistency (100%) with the single qPCR assay for HHVs detection. The features of simple, rapid, high sensitivity, specificity, and low cost make this assay a high potential to be widely used in clinical diagnosis and patient treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12250-021-00354-2.

Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) has become a serious threat to the gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio industry and has led to enormous losses worldwide. We have therefore developed an immunochromatographic strip (ICS) to enable rapid on-site detection of CyHV-2 by aquaculture facility staff. The ICS employs 2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs 2C3-1E6 and 3H2-1G5) against the ORF25 protein, a CyHV-2 membrane protein, as the capture and detection antibodies, respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and Western blotting of CyHV-2-infected fathead minnow cells indicated that the 2 MAbs could specifically bind CyHV-2 by recognizing ORF25 antigen. Sandwich ELISA showed that the detection limit of ORF25 protein halved when MAb 2C3-1E6 served as the capture antibody compared to MAb 3H2-1G5. The test for detecting purified CyHV-2 using the ICS could be completed in 10 min and the sensitivity was 1 µg ml-1. Sensitivity of the ICS remained stable following storage at 4, 25 and 37°C for 6 mo. Tissue homogenate from gibel carp with and without obvious gill hemorrhages was subjected to CyHV-2 detection using the ICS: the results were in good accordance with conventional PCR. Our ICS does not require highly trained technicians or specialized equipment, making it suitable for rapid diagnosis of CyHV-2 infection both in the laboratory and in the field.

The chronic dysfunction of neuronal cells, both central and peripheral, a characteristic of neurological disorders, may be caused by irreversible damage and cell death. In 2016, more than 276 million cases of neurological disorders were reported worldwide. Moreover, neurological disorders are the second leading cause of death. Generally, the etiology of neurological diseases is not fully understood. Recent studies have related the onset of neurological disorders to viral infections, which may cause neurological symptoms or lead to immune responses that trigger these pathological signs. Currently, this relationship is mostly based on epidemiological data on infections and seroprevalence of patients who present with neurological disorders. The number of studies aiming to elucidate the mechanism of action by which viral infections may directly or indirectly contribute to the development of neurological disorders has been increasing over the years but these studies are still scarce. Comprehending the pathogenesis of these diseases and exploring novel theories may favor the development of new strategies for diagnosis and therapy in the future. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to review the main pieces of evidence for the relationship between viral infection and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Viruses belonging to the families Herpesviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Flaviviridae, and Retroviridae have been reported to be involved in one or more of these conditions. Also, neurological symptoms and the future impact of infection with SARS-CoV-2, a member of the family Coronaviridae that is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that started in late 2019, are reported and discussed.

The aim was to investigate the detection rates of periodontal bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) and herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus-1 [HSV-1], cytomegalovirus [CMV], and Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]) in different forms and severity of periodontal disease, and to compare them with those in periodontally healthy subjects. One hundred and twenty-nine patients participated in the study: 39 diagnosed with periodontal abscess (PA), 33 with necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), 27 with chronic periodontitis (CP), and 30 participants with healthy periodontal tissue represented a healthy control group. All patients with periodontal disease (PA, NUP, and CP) were also divided into two groups according to the severity of their disease: moderate and severe periodontitis. The subgingival samples were collected from the periodontitis active sites and the detection of microorganisms was performed by end-point polymerase chain reaction analyses. The results revealed significantly higher detection rates of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and P. intermedia in all three groups of patients with periodontitis than in healthy participants. The highest detection rate of A. actinomycetemcomitans was noticed in CP, which was significantly higher than that in PA, NUP, and healthy control. The occurrence of EBV was significantly higher in NUP than in CP and healthy participants. CMV was detected significantly more frequently in PA and NUP than in CP and healthy participants. Comparisons among healthy participants and patients with moderate and severe periodontitis showed significantly higher detection rates of EBV and CMV in patients with severe forms of periodontitis than in healthy participants and those with moderate periodontitis.

Swine DNA viruses have developed unique mechanisms for evasion of the host immune system, infection and DNA replication, and finally, construction and release of new viral particles. This article reviews four classes of DNA viruses affecting swine: porcine circoviruses, African swine fever virus, porcine parvoviruses, and pseudorabies virus. Porcine circoviruses belonging to the Circoviridae family are small single-stranded DNA viruses causing different diseases in swine including poly-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, and porcine respiratory disease complex. African swine fever virus, the only member of the Asfivirus genus in the Asfarviridae family, is a large double-stranded DNA virus and for its propensity to cause high mortality, it is currently considered the most dangerous virus in the pig industry. Porcine parvoviruses are small single-stranded DNA viruses belonging to the Parvoviridae family that cause reproductive failure in pregnant gilts. Pseudorabies virus, or suid herpesvirus 1, is a large double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family and Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. Recent findings including general as well as genetic classification, virus structure, clinical syndromes and the host immune system responses and vaccine protection are described for all four swine DNA virus classes.

Introduction: Pityriasis rosea is an acute and self-limited exanthem first described by Gilbert in 1860. Its treatment is symptomatic, and although there is no conclusive evidence, it has been associated with the reactivation of the human herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7). Case presentation: A 28-year-old woman, from Bogotá, Colombia, a health worker, attended the emergency room due to the onset of symptoms that began 20 days earlier with the appearance of punctiform lesions in the left arm that later spread to the thorax, abdomen, opposite arm, and thighs. The patient reported a history of bipolar II disorder and retinal detachment. After ruling out several infectious diseases, and due to the evolution of the symptoms, pityriasis rosea was suspected. Therefore, treatment was started with deflazacort 30mg for 21 days, obtaining a favorable outcome and improvement of symptoms after 2 months. At the time of writing this case report, the patient had not consulted for recurrence. Conclusion: Primary care physicians should have sufficient training in dermatology to recognize and treat dermatological diseases since many of them are diagnosed based on clinical findings. This is an atypical case, in which the patient did not present with some of the pathognomonic signs associated with pityriasis rosea. RESUMEN Introducción. La pitiriasis rosada es un exantema agudo y autolimitado que fue descrito formalmente por Gilbert en 1860. Su tratamiento es sintomático y, aunque faltan pruebas concluyentes, su aparición se ha asociado a la reactivación de los herpevirus humanos 7 y 6 (HHV6 y HHV7). Presentación del caso. Mujer de 28 años procedente de Bogotá, Colombia, quien se desempeñaba como trabajadora de la salud y consultó al servicio de urgencias por un cuadro clínico de 20 días de evolución que inició con la aparición de lesiones punteadas en el brazo izquierdo que se expandieron posteriormente a tórax, abdomen, brazo contralateral y muslos. La paciente informó antecedente de trastorno bipolar tipo II y desprendimiento de retina. Después de descartar varias enfermedades infecciosas, y debido a la evolución del cuadro clínico, se sospechó pitiriasis rosada, por lo que se instauró tratamiento con 30mg de deflazacort por 21 días, con el cual se logró una evolución favorable y la mejoría total de los síntomas a los 2 meses. Hasta el momento de la elaboración del presente reporte de caso la joven no había consultado por recurrencia. Conclusión. Es indispensable que los médicos de atención primaria tengan una educación adecuada en dermatología para poder reconocer y tratar la pitiriasis rosada, pues su diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y puede tener múltiples presentaciones atípicas, como en el caso aquí reportado donde la paciente no tuvo algunos de los signos patognomónicos característicos.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Primary infection causes chickenpox followed by latency in the sensory ganglia, which can sometimes reactivate leading to herpes zoster. Chicken pox is generally a mild disease of childhood with a secondary attack rate of >85%, but disseminated VZV infection with visceral involvement and fatal outcome may occur in immunocompromised individuals. Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends two doses of live-attenuated varicella vaccine in healthy unexposed children at 15-18 months and then at 4-6 years of age. The effectiveness of a single dose of vaccine is around 85% and with a two-dose schedule is as high as 92%. Despite the vaccine-induced protection, community-acquired VZV infections still remain a problem in immunocompromised population. We hereby report a case of a previously immunized pediatric liver-transplant recipient who acquired VZV infection. This case report clearly highlights the importance of strict environmental infection control practices, early suspicion, diagnosis, and management in such cases.

Across the fields of virology and neuroscience, the role of neurotropic viruses in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has received renewed enthusiasm, with a particular focus on human herpesviruses (HHVs). Recent genomic analyses of brain tissue collections and investigations of the antimicrobial responses of amyloid-β do not exclude a role of HHVs in contributing to or accelerating AD pathogenesis. Due to continued expansion in our aging cohort and the lack of effective treatments for AD, this composition examines a potential neuroviral theory of AD in light of these recent data. Consideration reveals a possible viral “Hit-and-Run” scenario of AD, as well as neurobiological mechanisms (i.e., neuroinflammation, protein quality control, oxidative stress) that may increase risk for AD following neurotropic infection. Although limitations exist, this theoretical framework reveals several novel therapeutic targets that may prove efficacious in AD.

Forty-five Horsfield’s tortoises ( Testudo horsfieldii; syn. Agrionemys horfieldii, Russian tortoise) belonging to different owners had decreased appetite and respiratory issues. Twenty-nine tortoises had epiphora, dyspnea, and white necrotic diphtheroid oral plaques (group G1). Ten of the remaining 16 tortoises had serious dehydration, appetite disorder, and depression (G2). The last 6 tortoises had only decreased appetite and moderate conjunctival discharge (G3). During the physical examination of all 45 tortoises, a cytologic sample and an oral swab for herpesvirus and Mycoplasma agassizii PCR testing were taken. In 20 of 29 specimens from G1, in 8 of 16 from G2, and 0 of 6 from G3, the cytologic exam revealed intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies, multinucleate cellular syncytia, and further abnormalities caused by herpesviral infection. Moreover, all 45 tested subjects were found to be positive for testudinid herpesvirus 1; 2 were positive for M. agassizii. This prospective study suggests that Horsfield’s tortoises with such signs would benefit from this screening procedure, given that it was effective in a significant proportion of infected and symptomatic animals, and no negative effects were seen.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), one of the most widely spread human viruses in the Herpesviridae family, causes herpes labialis (cold sores) and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). Conventional treatment for HSV-1 infection includes pharmaceutical drugs, such as acyclovir and docosonal, which are efficacious but maintain the potential for the development of viral drug resistance. Extracts from the carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, have previously been shown to inhibit the replication of HSV-1. In this study, we demonstrate that S. purpurea extracts can inhibit the replication of HSV-1 by two distinct mechanisms of action. These extracts directly inhibit extracellular virions or viral attachment to the human host cell as well as inhibiting the expression of viral immediate-early, early and late genes when added at various times post-infection. This botanical has previously been shown to inhibit the replication of poxviruses through the inhibition of early viral gene transcription. These results support a broader anti-viral activity of S. purpurea extracts against both pox and herpes viruses.

Poxviruses and herpesviruses encode secreted versions of cytokine receptors as a unique strategy to evade the host immune response. Recent advances in the field have shown the great impact of some of these proteins in immune modulation and viral pathogenesis, and have uncovered unique properties of these viral proteins not found in the cellular counterparts. These modifications inspired by viruses lead to improved immune modulatory activity of the soluble cytokine receptors, information that has been used to develop more efficient therapeutics to treat inflammatory conditions.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), one of the most common in the human population, is capable of lifelong persistence in resting memory B-cells, in T-cells in case of type 2 EBV, and in some undifferentiated epithelial cells. In most people, EBV persistence is not accompanied by significant symptoms, but frequent virus activations are associated with the increased risks of severe diseases, such as chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gastric and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, and a variety of T- and B-cell lymphomas. Therefore, the molecular viral and host cell processes during asymptomatic or low-symptom EBV persistence are of great interest. This review describes the behavior of the viral DNA in an infected cell and the forms of its existence (linear, circular episome, chromosomally integrated forms), as well as methods of EBV genome copying. Two closely related cycles of viral reproduction are considered. Lytic activation is unfavorable for the survival of a particular viral genome in the cell, and may be a result of differentiation of a latently infected cell, or the arrival of stress signals due to adverse extracellular conditions. The EBV has a large number of adaptive mechanisms for limiting lytic reactivation and reducing hostility of host immune cells. Understanding the molecular aspects of EBV persistence will help in the future develop more effective targeted drugs for the treatment of both viral infection and associated diseases.

Introduction: Skin rash is a first symptom of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) but can also be caused by viruses. The relevance of virus DNA analyses in skin rash for diagnosis and clinical outcome is unknown. Objectives: To record the frequencies of detection of herpes and parvovirus B19 (ParvoB19) DNA in skin rash within 100 days after ASCT and to analyze their relevance for diagnosis, clinical course, and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Methods: We retrospectively identified 55 patients with virus DNA analysis for CMV, EBV, HHV6, HHV8, HSV, VZV, or ParvoB19. We assessed the rate of virus DNA detection and studied associations with histological diagnosis, virus DNA from concomitantly analyzed blood, clinical presentation, exanthema treatment, and NRM. Results: CMV, EBV, HHV6, HHV8, HSV, VZV and ParvoB19 DNA were detected in 12.5, 11.8, 10, 0, 0, 2.9, and 26.7% of exanthemas. Histopathological diagnosis was not associated with virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. Detection of CMV, EBV, or HHV6 DNA but not ParvoB19 in skin and blood was associated with PCR results (p = 0.016; p < 0.001; p = 0.067; p = n.a.). Detection of CMV, EBV, HHV6, or ParvoB19 DNA in the skin was not significantly associated with patient, ASCT, or GvHD characteristics. Detection of ParvoB19 but not herpes virus DNA was associated with less immunosuppressive treatment (p = 0.015) and lower NRM (p = 0.041). In multivariate analyses, detection of ParvoB19 was associated with a lower NRM. Conclusions: Detection of ParvoB19 DNA in exanthema after ASCT might be associated with lower NRM.