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The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with gastric cancer (GC), one of the deadliest malignancies in Chile and the world. Little is known about Chilean EBV strains. This study aims to investigate the frequency and genetic diversity of EBV in GC in patients in southern Chile. To evaluate the prevalence of EBV in GC patients from the Chilean population, we studied 54 GC samples using the gold standard detection method of EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER). The EBV-positive samples were subjected to amplification and sequencing of the Epstein–Barr virus nuclear protein 3A (EBNA3A) gene to evaluate the genetic diversity of EBV strains circulating in southern Chile. In total, 22.2% of the GC samples were EBV-positive and significantly associated with diffuse-type histology (p = 0.003). Phylogenetic analyses identified EBV-1 and EBV-2 in the GC samples, showing genetic diversity among Chilean isolates. This work provides important information for an epidemiological follow-up of the different EBV subtypes that may cause GC in southern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several reports have proposed that the viral load of torque teno virus (TTV) in plasma is a biomarker of immune function in solid organ transplantation (SOT) and in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Additionally, for the latter one, TTV-DNA quantification in saliva has also been suggested. to investigate the correlation between the TTV viral load and immune function in paired saliva and plasma samples in patients on kidney transplantation. TTV-DNA viral load was quantified in paired samples of saliva and plasma from 71 patients before and a short-time after renal-transplantation by real-time PCR. The data obtained from 213 paired samples showed a slight consistency in the comparison between saliva and plasma, with prevalence of TTV-DNA being 58%, 52% and 60% in saliva samples and 60%, 73% and 90% in plasma samples before and at 15–20 and 45–60 days after transplantation, respectively. Additionally, a high TTV viral load was observed in plasma at 15–20 and 45–60 days after transplantation compared to that observed in saliva at the same time. Overall, monitoring TTV-DNA in saliva samples could be an additional fast non-invasive option to assess the immune functionality in SOT populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several reports have proposed that the viral load of torque teno virus (TTV) in plasma is a biomarker of immune function in solid organ transplantation (SOT) and in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Additionally, for the latter one, TTVDNA quantification in saliva has also been suggested. Aim: to investigate the correlation between the TTV viral load and immune function in paired saliva and plasma samples in patients on kidney transplantation. Materials and Methods: TTV-DNA viral load was quantified in paired samples of saliva and plasma from 71 patients before and a short-time after renal-transplantation by real-time PCR. Results: The data obtained from 213 paired samples showed a slight consistency in the comparison between saliva and plasma, with prevalence of TTV-DNA being 58%, 52% and 60% in saliva samples and 60%, 73% and 90% in plasma samples before and at 15-20 and 45-60 days after transplantation, respectively. Additionally, a high TTV viral load was observed in plasma at 15-20 and 45-60 days after transplantation compared to that observed in saliva at the same time. Conclusions: Overall, monitoring TTV-DNA in saliva samples could be an additional fast noninvasive option to assess the immune functionality in SOT populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has a global spread, and it is estimated that around 20 million persons are in-fected. Seven major genetic subtypes are recognized. However, there are complete genomes only from the HTLV-1 a (cosmopoli-tan) and HTLV-lc (Melanesian) subtypes. Here, the first full-length genome of an HTLV-lb strain, a subtype so far restricted to Central African countries, is revealed. The genome size of HTLV-lb SF26, a strain isolated in Brazil, was determined to be 8,267 bp. The genomic analysis showed that all characteristic regions and genes of a prototypic HTLV-1 virus are conserved. This ge-nome can provide information for further studies on the evolutionary history and pathogenic potential of this human oncovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infectious agent and is the main cause of cervical cancer (CC). In Chile, CC is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women aged 20-44 years, four times higher than in developed countries. Currently, the detection of HPV infection using a cervical brush is recommended; however, this is an invasive procedure that many women try to avoid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a self-collected, urine-based HPV detection method using conventional PCR followed by a reverse line blot. A PCR-based HPV genotyping was performed on 190 paired cervical and urine samples from gynecological exams at public health centers in the Araucania Region, Chile. HPV DNA detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and reverse line blot assay. Carcinogenic HPV types were present in 64.7% and 65.8% of the cervical and urine samples; the infection rates of HPV16 were 34.7% and 33.2%, respectively. The overall percent agreement between carcinogenic HPV detection in cervical and urine samples was 73.7%, with a moderate concordance rate of carcinogenic HPV detection (kappa = 0.42). Clinical sensitivities for cervical and urine-based sampling methods to diagnose cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 (CIN2/3) by histology were 93.4% and 90.2%, respectively. These results suggest that both cervical brush and urine-based sampling show a good clinical performance in the detection of HPV infection. The urine-based sampling method represents a valuable alternative with a great impact on public health, allowing increased cervical cancer screening coverage among women who do not undergo pelvic examinations., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)