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1. Late presentation of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Spain reflects suboptimal testing strategies

Author

de Mendoza, Carmen, Pérez, Leire, Fernández-Ruiz, Mario, Pena, María José, Ramos, José Manuel, Richart, Alberto, Piron, María, Rando, Ariadna, Miró, Elisenda, Reina, Gabriel, Encinas, Beatriz, Rojo, Silvia, Rodriguez-Iglesias, Antonio Manuel, Benito, Rafael, Aguilera, Antonio, Treviño, Ana, Corral, Octavio, and Soriano, Vicente

Published
2022
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2. Effect of Hepatitis E Virus RNA Universal Blood Donor Screening, Catalonia, Spain, 2017-2020

Author

Bes, Marta, Costafreda, Maria I., Riveiro-Barciela, Mar, Piron, Maria, Rico, Angie, Quer, Josep, Puig, Lluis, and Sauleda, Silvia

Subjects
Catalonia, Spain -- Health aspects, Hepatitis E -- Statistics -- Risk factors -- Diagnosis, Blood transfusion -- Statistics -- Complications and side effects, Blood donors -- Statistics, Medical screening -- Statistics, Health
Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV; family Hepeviridae, genus Orthohepevirus) (1) is an RNA virus that causes acute viral hepatitis in humans. Five HEV genotypes are known to infect humans. Genotypes 1 [...]

Published
2022
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6. Specific Plasma MicroRNA Signatures Underlying the Clinical Outcomes of Hepatitis E Virus Infection

Author

Costafreda, Maria I., primary, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Riveiro-Barciela, Mar, additional, Rico, Angie, additional, Llorens-Revull, Meritxell, additional, Guix, Susana, additional, Pintó, Rosa M., additional, Bosch, Albert, additional, Rodríguez-Frías, Francisco, additional, Rando, Ariadna, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, and Bes, Marta, additional

Published
2023
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7. Specific Plasma MicroRNA Signatures Underlying the Clinical Outcomes of Hepatitis E Virus Infection

Author

Costafreda Salvany, Maria Isabel, Sauleda, Silvia, Riveiro Barciela, Mar, Rico, Angie, Llorens-Revull, Meritxell, Guix, Susana, Pintó, Rosa M., Bosch, Albert, Rodríguez Frías, Francisco, Rando-Segura, Ariadna, Piron, Maria, Bes, Marta, and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina

Subjects
Microbiology (medical), Micro RNAs, General Immunology and Microbiology, Ecology, Physiology, Cell Biology, Infection outcomes, Microrna, MicroRNAs, Infectious Diseases, Prognostic indicators, Genetics, Hepatitis E virus, RNA, Virus de l'hepatitis E, Diagnostics
Abstract

The pathogenic mechanisms determining the diverse clinical outcomes of HEV infection (e.g., self-limiting versus chronic or symptomatic versus asymptomatic) are not yet understood. Because specific microRNA signatures during viral infection inform the cellular processes involved in virus replication and pathogenesis, we investigated plasma microRNA profiles in 44 subjects, including patients with symptomatic acute (AHE, n = 7) and chronic (CHE, n = 6) hepatitis E, blood donors with asymptomatic infection (HEV BDs, n = 9), and anti-HEV IgG + IgM − (exposed BDs, n = 10) and anti-HEV IgG − IgM − (naive BDs, n = 12) healthy blood donors. By measuring the abundance of 179 microRNAs in AHE patients and naive BDs by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), we identified 51 potential HEV-regulated microRNAs (P value adjusted for multiple testing by the Benjamini-Hochberg correction [ P ] < 0.05). Further analysis showed that HEV genotype 3 infection is associated with miR-122, miR-194, miR-885, and miR-30a upregulation and miR-221, miR-223, and miR-27a downregulation. AHE patients showed significantly higher levels of miR-122 and miR-194 and lower levels of miR-221, miR-27a, and miR-335 than HEV BDs. This specific microRNA signature in AHE could promote virus replication and reduce antiviral immune responses, contributing to the development of clinical symptoms. We found that miR-194, miR-335, and miR-221 can discriminate between asymptomatic HEV infections and those developing acute symptoms, whereas miR-335 correctly classifies AHE and CHE patients. Our data suggest that diverse outcomes of HEV infection result from different HEV-induced microRNA dysregulations. The specific microRNA signatures described offer novel information that may serve to develop biomarkers of HEV infection outcomes and improve our understanding of HEV pathogenesis, which may facilitate the identification of antiviral targets. IMPORTANCE There is increasing evidence that viruses dysregulate the expression and/or secretion of microRNAs to promote viral replication, immune evasion, and pathogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the change in microRNA abundance in patients with acute or chronic HEV infection and asymptomatic HEV-infected blood donors. Our results suggest that different HEV-induced microRNA dysregulations may contribute to the diverse clinical manifestations of HEV infection. The specific microRNA signatures identified in this study hold potential as predictive markers of HEV infection outcomes, which would improve the clinical management of hepatitis E patients, particularly of those developing severe symptoms or chronic infections. Furthermore, this study provides new insights into HEV pathogenesis that may serve to identify antiviral targets, which would have a major impact because no effective treatments are yet available

Published
2023

8. HTLV-1/2 Infection in Blood Donors from a Non-Endemic Area (Catalonia, Spain) between 2008 and 2017: A 10-Year Experience

Author

Piron, Maria, Salvador, Fernando, Caballero Requero, Estrella, Sánchez-Montalvá, Adrián, Bes, Marta, Casamitjana, Natàlia, Puig Sanz, Lluís, Molina Romero, Israel, Sauleda, Silvia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, [Piron M, Bes M, Sauleda S] Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya (Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia, BST), Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Barcelona, Spain. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREhd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain. Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain. [Salvador F, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Molina I] Centre de Salut Internacional i Malalties Transmissibles Drassanes-Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain. Servei de Malalties Infecciones, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain. PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. [Caballero E] Laboratori de Microbiologia, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain. [Casamitjana N] Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya (Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia, BST), Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Barcelona, Spain. [Puig L] Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya (Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia, BST), Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Barcelona, Spain. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREhd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, and Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus

Subjects
Adult, Male, personas::donantes de tejidos::donantes de sangre [DENOMINACIONES DE GRUPOS], Blood Donors, Virus Diseases::RNA Virus Infections::Retroviridae Infections::Deltaretrovirus Infections [DISEASES], Deltaretrovirus, Virology, Humans, Malalties transmissibles, Infeccions per retrovirus, transfusion, Other subheadings::Other subheadings::/transmission [Other subheadings], Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, screening, virosis::infecciones por virus ARN::infecciones por Retroviridae::infecciones por Deltaretrovirus [ENFERMEDADES], Human T-lymphotropic virus 2, HTLV-I Infections, HTLV-1/2, blood donors, leukoreduction, Spain, Infectious Diseases, Persons::Tissue Donors::Blood Donors [NAMED GROUPS], HTLV-1, HTLV-II Infections, Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::/transmisión [Otros calificadores], Female, Donants de sang
Abstract

Spain; Screening; Transfusion España; Cribado; Transfusión Espanya; Cribratge; Transfusió Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) screening is not mandatory in Spanish blood banks. In Catalonia, selective screening was introduced in 2008, followed by universal screening in 2011. We present herein a 10-year experience of HTLV testing in blood donors. HTLV-1/2 selective screening was performed using Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics HTLV-I/HTLV-II Ab-Capture ELISA between February 2008 and May 2009, then Abbott Prism HTLV-I/ HTLV-II assay until December 2010. Abbott Architect rHTLV-I/II assay was then used for HTLV-1/2 universal screening in pooled samples. INNO-LIA HTLV I/II Score (Fujirebio) and in-house HTLV-1/2 proviral DNA real-time PCR were used in reactive samples. Follow-up was offered to confirm HTLV-1/2 donors in Vall d’Hebron Hospital. Between 2008 and 2017, 51 blood donors were confirmed HTLV positive (46 HTLV-1, 4 HTLV-2 and 1 HTLV) out of 2,114,891 blood donations (1 in 41,468). Sixty-nine percent were female, median age was 40 years and most were born in Latin America (69%), followed by Europe (25%), Africa (4%) and Asia (2%). Screening of relatives and partners identified 12 additional HTLV-1 cases. Lookback studies did not show any HTLV-1/2 transmission. HTLV infections found in blood donors mirror epidemiological changes in the population of Spain. Consequently, HTLV should be considered a potential risk for recipients and calls for the design of optimal strategies to ensure transfusion safety. A.S.-M was supported by a postdoctoral grant “Juan Rodés” (JE18/00022) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

Published
2022

11. Clinical evaluation of the Procleix SARS-CoV-2 assay, a sensitive, high-throughput test that runs on an automated system

Author

Sauleda, Silvia, primary, Palacios, Lourdes, additional, Brès, Vanessa, additional, Piñana, Maria, additional, Alonso-Hernandez, Lorena, additional, Bes, Marta, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Entrena, Edurne, additional, Minguez-Micolau, Antonio M., additional, Marimón, Jose Maria, additional, Gurrola, Adrian, additional, Soria, Gloria, additional, Puig, Lluís, additional, Antón, Andrés, additional, Pumarola, Tomás, additional, and Linnen, Jeffrey M., additional

Published
2022
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15. Detection of Nonenveloped Hepatitis E Virus in Plasma of Infected Blood Donors.

Author

Costafreda, Maria Isabel, Sauleda, Silvia, Rico, Angie, Piron, Maria, and Bes, Marta

Subjects
HEPATITIS E virus, BLOOD plasma, BLOOD donors, BLOOD products, LIVER enzymes, HEPATITIS viruses, HEPATITIS E, RNA, VIRAL antibodies
Abstract

Background: Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have raised many concerns regarding the safety of blood products. To date, enveloped HEV particles have been described in circulating blood, whereas nonenveloped HEV virions have only been found in feces; however, no exhaustive studies have been performed to fully characterize HEV particles in blood.Methods: Using isopycnic ultracentrifugation, we determined the types of HEV particles in plasma of HEV-infected blood donors.Results: Nonenveloped HEV was detected in 8 of 23 plasma samples, whereas enveloped HEV was found in all of them. No association was observed between the presence of nonenveloped HEV and viral load, gender, or age at infection. However, samples with HEV-positive serology and/or increased levels of liver injury markers contained a higher proportion of nonenveloped HEV than samples with HEV-negative serology and normal levels of liver enzymes. These results were further confirmed by analyzing paired donation and follow-up samples of 10 HEV-infected donors who were HEV seronegative at donation but had anti-HEV antibodies and/or increased levels of liver enzymes at follow up.Conclusions: The HEV-contaminated blood products may contain nonenveloped HEV, which may pose an additional risk to blood safety by behaving differently to pathogen inactivation treatments or increasing infectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022
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17. Unexpected long‐lasting anti‐HEV IgM positivity: Is HEV antigen a better serological marker for hepatitis E infection diagnosis?

Author

Riveiro‐Barciela, Mar, primary, Rando‐Segura, Ariadna, additional, Barreira‐Díaz, Ana, additional, Bes, Marta, additional, P. Ruzo, Sofía, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Quer, Josep, additional, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Rodríguez‐Frías, Francisco, additional, Esteban, Rafael, additional, and Buti, María, additional

Published
2020
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25. International Forum on Occult hepatitis B infection and transfusion safety

Author

Seed, Clive R., primary, Allain, Jean‐Pierre, additional, Lozano, Miquel, additional, Laperche, Syria, additional, Gallian, Pierre, additional, Gross, Sylvie, additional, Kwon, So‐Yong, additional, Oh, E.Y., additional, Kim, J.N., additional, Chua, Sze Sze, additional, Lam, Sally, additional, Ang, Ai Leen, additional, Tsoi, Wai‐Chiu, additional, Hewitt, Patricia E., additional, Davison, Katy L., additional, Tettmar, Kate, additional, O'Flaherty, Niamh, additional, Boland, Fiona, additional, Williams, Padraig, additional, Pomeroy, Louise, additional, Wendel, Silvano, additional, Fachini, Roberta, additional, Scuracchio, Patrícia, additional, Carminato, Patricia, additional, Fearon, Margaret, additional, O'Brien, Sheila F., additional, Delage, Gilles, additional, Kiely, Philip, additional, Hoad, Veronica, additional, Matsubayashi, Keiji, additional, Satake, Masahiro, additional, Taira, Rikizo, additional, Stramer, Susan L., additional, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Bes, Marta, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, El Ekiaby, Magdy, additional, Vermeulen, Marion, additional, Levičnik Stezinar, Snežna, additional, Nograšek, Polona, additional, Jarvis, Lisa M., additional, Petrik, Juraj, additional, Charlewood, Richard, additional, Flanagan, Peter, additional, Grabarczyk, Piotr, additional, Kopacz, Aneta, additional, Łętowska, Magdalena, additional, Seifried, Erhard, additional, and Schmidt, Michael, additional

Published
2019
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26. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura relapse induced by acute hepatitis E transmitted by cryosupernatant plasma and successfully controlled with ribavirin

Author

Riveiro-Barciela, Mar, primary, Bes, Marta, additional, Quer, Josep, additional, Valcarcel, David, additional, Piriz, Sofia, additional, Gregori, Josep, additional, Llorens, Meritxell, additional, Salcedo, María-Teresa, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Esteban, Rafael, additional, Buti, Maria, additional, and Sauleda, Silvia, additional

Published
2018
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29. Evaluation of Sensitivity and Specificity Performance of Elecsys HTLV-I/II Assay in a Multicenter Study in Europe and Japan

Author

Laperche, Syria, primary, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Mühlbacher, Annelies, additional, Schennach, Harald, additional, Schottstedt, Volkmar, additional, Queirós, Lucinda, additional, Uno, Naoki, additional, Yanagihara, Katsunori, additional, Imdahl, Roland, additional, Hey, Ariann, additional, Klinkicht, Markus, additional, Melchior, Walter, additional, Muench, Peter, additional, and Watanabe, Toshiki, additional

Published
2017
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30. Low Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Blood Donors from Catalonia, Spain

Author

Piron, Maria, primary, Plasencia, Antoni, additional, Fleta-Soriano, Eric, additional, Martinez, Ana, additional, Martinez, Javier P., additional, Torner, Nuria, additional, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Meyerhans, Andreas, additional, Escalé, Josefina, additional, Trilla, Antoni, additional, Pumarola, Tomás, additional, and Martinez, Miguel Julian, additional

Published
2015
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31. Hepatitis E

Author

Petrik, Juraj, primary, Lozano, Miguel, additional, Seed, Clive R., additional, Faddy, Helen M., additional, Keller, Anthony J., additional, Prado Scuracchio, Patricia Santos, additional, Wendel, Silvano, additional, Andonov, Anton, additional, Fearon, Margaret, additional, Delage, Gilles, additional, Zhang, Jun, additional, Shih, James Wai Kuo, additional, Gallian, Pierre, additional, Djoudi, Rachid, additional, Tiberghien, Pierre, additional, Izopet, Jacques, additional, Dreier, Jens, additional, Vollmer, Tanja, additional, Knabbe, Cornelius, additional, Aggarwal, Rakesh, additional, Goel, Amit, additional, Ciccaglione, Anna Rita, additional, Matsubayashi, Keiji, additional, Satake, Masahiro, additional, Tadokoro, Kenji, additional, Jeong, Sook‐Hyang, additional, Zaaijer, Hans L., additional, Zhiburt, Eugene, additional, Chay, Jason, additional, Teo, Diana, additional, Chua, Sze Sze, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Echevarría, José‐Manuel, additional, Dalton, Harry, additional, and Stramer, Susan L., additional

Published
2015
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33. Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and detection of HEV RNA with a transcription-mediated amplification assay in blood donors from Catalonia (Spain)

Author

Sauleda, Sílvia, primary, Ong, Edgar, additional, Bes, Marta, additional, Janssen, Alanna, additional, Cory, Robin, additional, Babizki, Maria, additional, Shin, Tim, additional, Lindquist, Andre, additional, Hoang, Anh, additional, Vang, Lee, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Casamitjana, Natàlia, additional, Koppelman, Marco, additional, Danzig, Lisa, additional, and Linnen, Jeffrey M., additional

Published
2014
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34. Changes in Parvovirus B19 positivity rates in plasma units for fractionation: An unexpected effect of non‐pharmaceutical interventions against COVID‐19?

Author

Sauleda, Silvia, Piron, Maria, Bes, Marta, Martinez‐Llonch, Nuria, and Puig, Lluis

Subjects
*PARVOVIRUS B19, *OPTIMISM, *NUCLEIC acid amplification techniques, *HEMAPHERESIS, *COVID-19
Abstract

However, between January 2020 and July 2021, the plasma fractionator has reported only three plasma units positive for B19, from three whole blood donors, one male and two females that donated on 18 January, and 17 and 28 February 2020. Parvovirus B19 (B19) is a small non-enveloped DNA virus, discovered in 1975 by Yvonne Cossart in the blood of a healthy blood donor. B19 infections follow a seasonal pattern in plasma donors, most positive plasma units corresponding to donations obtained between March and July [1]. [Extracted from the article]

Published
2022
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35. Cap-poly(A) synergy in mammalian cell-free extracts. Investigation of the requirements for poly(A)-mediated stimulation of translation initiation

Author

Michel, Yanne M., Poncet, Didier, Piron, Maria, Kean, Katherine M., Borman, Andrew M., Génétique Moléculaire des Virus Respiratoires, Institut Pasteur [Paris] (IP)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité de recherche Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires (VIM (UR 0892)), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Work in the laboratory of K. M. K. was supported by the Program de Recherche Clinique de l'Institut Pasteur and by Grant 6495 from the Association Française Contre les Myopathies., Régulation de la traduction eucaryote et virale, Institut Pasteur [Paris]-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Pasteur [Paris], and Vall d'Hebron University Hospital [Barcelona]

Subjects
Cell Extracts, Rotavirus, Reticulocytes, STRUCTURE, MESH: Rabbits, Viral Nonstructural Proteins, stimulation, MESH: Poly(A)-Binding Proteins, MESH: RNA Caps, infection virale, Peptide Initiation Factors, adénine, MESH: Cell Extracts, MESH: Cell-Free System, MESH: Animals, Encephalomyocarditis virus, polyadenylation, Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational, MESH: Peptide Initiation Factors, MESH: Encephalomyocarditis virus, immunologie moléculaire, RNA-Binding Proteins, mammifère, MESH: Rotavirus, MESH: Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G, VIROLOGIE, MESH: Nucleic Acid Conformation, protéine, Rabbits, MESH: Poly A, arn messager, transcription, Plasmids, Protein Binding, RNA Caps, MESH: Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational, génétique moléculaire, Poly(A)-Binding Proteins, MESH: Plasmids, Animals, Humans, MESH: Protein Binding, [SDV.BBM.BC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Biochemistry [q-bio.BM], Binding Sites, MESH: Humans, Cell-Free System, MESH: Ultracentrifugation, MESH: Reticulocytes, initiation, MESH: RNA-Binding Proteins, arn t, MESH: Binding Sites, MESH: HeLa Cells, Nucleic Acid Conformation, MESH: Viral Nonstructural Proteins, Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G, Poly A, Ribosomes, Ultracentrifugation, MESH: Ribosomes, HeLa Cells
Abstract

35 ref.; International audience; The 5' cap and 3' poly(A) tail of eukaryotic mRNAs cooperate to stimulate synergistically translation initiation in vivo, a phenomenon observed to date in vitro only in translation systems containing endogenous competitor mRNAs. Here we describe nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysates and HeLa cell cytoplasmic extracts that reproduce cap-poly(A) synergy in the absence of such competitor RNAs. Extracts were rendered poly(A)-dependent by ultracentrifugation to partially deplete them of ribosomes and associated initiation factors. Under optimal conditions, values for synergy in reticulocyte lysates approached 10-fold. By using this system, we investigated the molecular mechanism of poly(A) stimulation of translation. Maximal cap-poly(A) cooperativity required the integrity of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4G-poly(A)-binding protein (eIF4G-PABP) interaction, suggesting that synergy results from mRNA circularization. In addition, polyadenylation stimulated uncapped cellular mRNA translation and that driven by the encephalomyocarditis virus internal ribosome entry segment (IRES). These effects of poly(A) were also sensitive to disruption of the eIF4G-PABP interaction, suggesting that 5'-3' end cross-talk is functionally conserved between classical mRNAs and an IRES-containing mRNA. Finally, we demonstrate that a rotaviral non-structural protein that evicts PABP from eIF4G is capable of provoking the shut-off of host cell translation seen during rotavirus infection.

Published
2000

39. Early Antiviral Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Recurrence after Liver Transplantation in HIV-Infected Patients

Author

Castells, LLuís, primary, Esteban, Juan I, additional, Bilbao, Itxarone, additional, Vargas, Víctor, additional, Allende, Helena, additional, Ribera, Esteban, additional, Piron, Maria, additional, Sauleda, Silvia, additional, Len, Oscar, additional, Pahissa, Albert, additional, Esteban, Rafael, additional, Guardia, Jaime, additional, and Margarit, Carlos, additional

Published
2006
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46. Catalytic RNase P RNA from Synechocystis sp. cleaves the hepatitis C virus RNA near the AUG start codon

Author

Sabariegos, Rosario, Nadal, Anna, Beguiristain, Nerea, Piron, Maria, and Gómez, Jordi

Subjects
CATALYSIS, HEPATITIS, RNA, GENOMES
Abstract

Previously, we described two RNA structural motifs in the hepatitis C viral (HCV) genome that can be processed in vitro by human ribonuclease P (RNase P) enzyme [J. Biol. Chem. 277 (2002) 30606]. One of these structures is located in the internal ribosome entry site and is conserved in the related animal pestiviruses [J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 26844]. Here, we tested two prokaryotic RNase P ribozymes (P RNA) against this conserved structural motif. In vitro experiments indicated that P RNA from Synechocystis sp. can specifically process the viral transcript preparations in a position close to the human RNase P cleavage site. This provides additional support for the presence of an RNA structure similar to tRNA near the AUG start codon and suggests that Synechocystis P RNA may be an active agent for HCV antigenomic interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Published
2004
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48. HTLV-1/2 Infection in Blood Donors from a Non-Endemic Area (Catalonia, Spain) between 2008 and 2017: A 10-Year Experience.

Author

Piron M, Salvador F, Caballero E, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Bes M, Casamitjana N, Puig L, Molina I, and Sauleda S

Subjects
Adult, Deltaretrovirus, Female, Human T-lymphotropic virus 2, Humans, Male, Spain epidemiology, Blood Donors, HTLV-I Infections diagnosis, HTLV-I Infections epidemiology, HTLV-II Infections diagnosis, HTLV-II Infections epidemiology, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 genetics
Abstract

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) screening is not mandatory in Spanish blood banks. In Catalonia, selective screening was introduced in 2008, followed by universal screening in 2011. We present herein a 10-year experience of HTLV testing in blood donors. HTLV-1/2 selective screening was performed using Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics HTLV-I/HTLV-II Ab-Capture ELISA between February 2008 and May 2009, then Abbott Prism HTLV-I/ HTLV-II assay until December 2010. Abbott Architect rHTLV-I/II assay was then used for HTLV-1/2 universal screening in pooled samples. INNO-LIA HTLV I/II Score (Fujirebio) and in-house HTLV-1/2 proviral DNA real-time PCR were used in reactive samples. Follow-up was offered to confirm HTLV-1/2 donors in Vall d'Hebron Hospital. Between 2008 and 2017, 51 blood donors were confirmed HTLV positive (46 HTLV-1, 4 HTLV-2 and 1 HTLV) out of 2,114,891 blood donations (1 in 41,468). Sixty-nine percent were female, median age was 40 years and most were born in Latin America (69%), followed by Europe (25%), Africa (4%) and Asia (2%). Screening of relatives and partners identified 12 additional HTLV-1 cases. Lookback studies did not show any HTLV-1/2 transmission. HTLV infections found in blood donors mirror epidemiological changes in the population of Spain. Consequently, HTLV should be considered a potential risk for recipients and calls for the design of optimal strategies to ensure transfusion safety., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Published
2022
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49. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in blood donors before and after the first wave in Catalonia (Spain).

Author

Piron M, Jané M, Ciruela P, Basile L, Martínez A, Puig L, Bes M, and Sauleda S

Subjects
Antibodies, Viral, Blood Donors, Communicable Disease Control, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin M, Pandemics, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Spain epidemiology, COVID-19 epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2
Abstract

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a national lockdown was applied in Spain from March to May 2020. It is uncertain when SARS-CoV-2 started to circulate in Catalonia, and only a few cases were diagnosed in this period. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in blood donors before and after the first wave and compared it with public health service (PHS) data., Materials and Methods: Retrospective archive or prospective fresh blood samples were obtained from blood donors aged 18 to 70 and anonymized after demographic data had been recorded (gender, age, place of residence, blood collection date). Two CE-marked enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to test for anti-SARS-CoV-2. A SARS-CoV-2 IgM test was additionally performed in positive samples. Individuals aged 18 to 70 from among the general population diagnosed as having SARS-CoV-2 by the PHS were included for comparison with blood donor results., Results: A total of 10,170 blood donations were included in the first period, between 24 February and 9 March 2020, and 6,829 in the second period, between 16 May and 17 June 2020. The observed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among blood donors rose from 0.27% (95% CI: 0.18-0.39) before the first wave to 5.55% (95% CI: 5.03-6.12) after it, and was even higher (6.90% [95% CI: 5.64-8.41]) among blood donors aged 18 to 29. The seroprevalence among blood donors was higher in more populated areas (Barcelona: 7.69%). A comparison of blood donor data with officially diagnosed cases showed a global 87.44% underestimation of SARS-CoV-2 in June 2020., Discussion: We analyzed the explosive 3-month increase in blood donor SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (from 0.27% to 5.55%) and show that more than 87% of cases went undiagnosed, despite the unprecedented deployment of testing measures. SARS-CoV-2 IgM results suggest that the virus was circulating among blood donors in February 2020. Blood donors are definitively proven to be a valuable resource for emerging disease surveillance studies.

Published
2022
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50. Hepatitis E.

Author

Petrik J, Lozano M, Seed CR, Faddy HM, Keller AJ, Prado Scuracchio PS, Wendel S, Andonov A, Fearon M, Delage G, Zhang J, Shih JW, Gallian P, Djoudi R, Tiberghien P, Izopet J, Dreier J, Vollmer T, Knabbe C, Aggarwal R, Goel A, Ciccaglione AR, Matsubayashi K, Satake M, Tadokoro K, Jeong SH, Zaaijer HL, Zhiburt E, Chay J, Teo D, Chua SS, Piron M, Sauleda S, Echevarría JM, Dalton H, and Stramer SL

Published
2016
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