bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low‐cost hepatitis B vaccine improves uptake among self‐paying health‐care students
Authors: Pennie Ross A. , O'Connor Annette M. , Dulberg Corinne S. , Bottiglia Anna , Manga Pranlal , Kang C. Yong
Published: March 2007

Advisory committees recommend hepatitis B (HBV) immunization for professional and student health‐care workers. However, the currently licensed vaccines are expensive, and previous surveys have shown that few students (14%) have been immunized in Canada. A low‐cost immunization program was offered to health‐care students in order to determine whether the effectiveness of HBV immunization could be improved by substantially reducing the vaccine cost to recipients. The immunogenicity, side effects, and 3‐dose completion rate of a low‐cost Korean HBV vaccine were compared with a similar U.S.‐made vaccine. A total of 922 postsecondary students enrolled in 6 health‐care disciplines in Ottawa, Canada were surveyed for hepatitis‐6 immunization status. Nonimmunized students were subsequently offered HBV vaccine at total cost of $15 (Canadian), randomly allocated t o receive 3 intramuscular doses of either Korean or U.S.‐made plasma‐derived HBV vaccine in a double‐blind fashion, surveyed about side effects, and tested for hepatitis B surface antibody seroconversion. Only 12% of the 922 surveyed students had been previously immunized when vaccine was obtainable only at high cost. However, 66% of those not immunized participated in the vaccine trial and paid the $15 fee. Hepatitis‐B surface antibody seroconversion (≥10 sample ratio units by radioimmunoassay) occurred in 291/311 (93.6%) and 299/310 (96.5%) of recipients of 3 doses of the Korean and U.S. vaccines, respectively (P = 0.10). There were no meaningful differences in vaccine adverse effects, and 92.6% of recipients of either vaccine completed 3 doses. These results support the view that HBV immunization would be more effective (vaccine acceptance rates higher, greater proportions of persons protected) if lower cost vaccines were marketed. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy of (S)‐1‐(3‐hydroxy‐2‐phosphonylmethoxypropyl)cytosine and 9‐(1,3‐dihydroxy‐2‐propoxymethyl)guanine for the treatment of murine cytomegalovirus infection in severe combined immunodeficiency mice
Authors: Neyts Johan , Balzarini Jan , Naesens Lieve , de Clercq Erik
Published: March 2007

Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) inoculated intraperitoneally with murine cytornegalovirus (MCMV) develop a wasting syndrome at 3–4 days and die at 6–9 days after the infection. 9‐(1,3‐Dihydroxy‐2‐propoxyrnethyl)guanine (DHPG, ganciclovir) and (S)‐1‐(3‐hydroxy‐2‐phosphonylrnethoxypropyl) cytosine (HPMPC) were compared for their efficacy against MCMV‐induced disease and mortality in SCID mice. Under all treatment conditions, i.e., administration of the test compounds for 5 consecutive days starting on the day of infection (day 0), for 5 consecutive days starting on day 4 after the infection, 2 periods of 3 consecutive days starting on day 0 and day 9 after infection, or as a single dose on day 3 before infection, HPMPC proved far superior to ganciclovir in delaying the onset of the disease and increasing the lifespan of the MCMV‐infected mice. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in HBsAg‐negative chronic liver disease in Hong Kong using different assays
Authors: Lai J. Y. , Tam John S. , Lam L. Y. , Leung Nancy W. Y.
Published: March 2007

The prevalence of anti‐HCV antibodies in Chinese patients with HBsAg‐negative chronic liver diseases was studied retrospectively. Anti‐HCV was detected by two different ELISAs. In 97 pa‐ tients with HBsAg‐negative chronic liver disease, 26 (27%) were anti‐HCV positive. Of 157 control subjects, only 1 (0.6%) was anti‐HCV positive (P < 0.001). Anti‐HCV was detected in 18 of 27 (67%) patients with post‐transfusion non‐A, non‐B (PTNANB) chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, 5 of 25 (20%) patients with cryptogenic chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, 2 of 33 (6%) patients with alcoholic liver disease, 1 of 5 (20%) patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (AICAH), none of 4 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and none of 3 patients with fatty liver. The prevalence in this group of patients was lower when compared to reports from other countries. The addition of a urea washing step reduced false‐positivity in alcoholic and AICAH groups. The ELISA that employs three recombinant HCV antigens confirmed all positive results by an‐ other ELISA with the exception of one weakly positive result in the AICAH group and one in the alcoholic group. One patient in the PTNANB group was detected in addition by the second generation assay. In conclusion, ELISA with a urea wash proved to be useful in reducing falsepositivity, and the second generation assay proved to be a sensitive and specific test for anti‐HCV antibody. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enteric non‐A, non‐B hepatitis: Epidemics, animal transmission, and hepatitis E virus detection by the polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Jameel Shahid , Durgapal Hemlata , Habibullah C. M. , Khuroo Mohammed Sultan , Panda Subrat Kumar
Published: March 2007

We studied epidemics of viral hepatitis occurring at three different places in India. One was a combined epidemic due to hepatitis E virus (HEV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections. In this epidemic, HAV affected children below 10 years of age, whereas HEV infected the young adult population. HEV was transmitted to rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulata) and confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on bile from the animals. Fecal material from acutely infected patients in one of the epidemics was also found positive for HEV RNA by PCR. This may help in confirming the nature of future epidemics. The bile and liver from experimental animals can be used as a source of material for further virological and molecular biological studies of HEV. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Further characterisation of human rotaviruses isolated from asymptomatically infected neonates in South Africa
Authors: Steele A. D. , van Niekerk M. C. , Geyer A. , Bos P. , Alexander J. J.
Published: March 2007

Stool specimens were collected from healthy neonates a t Ga‐Rankuwa Hospital in the winters of 1984 and 1986 and tested for the presence of rotavirus infection. Asymptomatic excretion was found to occur in 25% of the newborn babies analysed. Gel electrophoresis of the rotavirus RNA genome revealed that a genomically stable strain of rotavirus was endemic in the ward at the time intervals examined. Hybridisation analysis of the VP4 and VP7 rotavirus genes, which encode the outer capsid neutralization proteins of the virus, was conducted. These results showed the presence of a serotype 4 rotavirus strain with an M37‐like VP4 gene allele, which remained conserved in the nursery over the time period examined. Partial nucleotide sequences were obtained for a variable region of the VP7 gene and for the hyperdivergent region of the VP4 gene from 8 of these viruses and showed that remarkable conservation of these regions in the genes of the viruses occurred over time. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM responses to different enteroviruses as measured by a coxsackie B5‐based indirect ELISA
Authors: Boman Jens , Nilsson Birgitta , Juto Per
Published: March 2007

An enterovirus‐specific indirect ELISA, based on a single local isolate of coxsackie B5 as antigen, was used to study the IgA, IgG, and IgM responses in 19 patients with a recent or current enterovirus infection. Twelve different enterovirus serotypes were isolated from 15 patients. Paired serum samples were available from 10 and a single serum from 5 of these 15 patients. In addition, 4 patients diagnosed by a significant titer rise of complement fixing antibodies to enterovirus were included. A serological diagnosis, defined as an increase in titer of enterovirus IgG and/or presence of enterovirus IgM, were established in all 14 patients with paired sera. Enterovirus IgM was present i n either a single serum or in both sera in 13 of them. Out of 5 patients with a single serum sample only, enterovirus IgA or enterovirus IgM was found in 4. Specific IgA was present in either a single serum or i n both sera in 14 of the 19 patients. Seven of the 10 enterovirus isolate patients with paired sera had a significant titer rise of complement fixing antibodies; however, all 10 were diagnosed by ELISA. Among 64 healthy controls 2 had enterovirus IgA and none had enterovirus IgM.

In conclusion, the use of a single antigenbased ELISA was found t o be reliable for the diagnosis of recent and current enterovirus infections. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of enteroviral RNA by polymerase chain reaction in faecal samples from patients with aseptic meningitis
Authors: Glimåker Martin , Abebe Almaz , Johansson Bo , Ehrnst Anneka , Olcén Per , Strannegård Orjan
Published: March 2007

An assay based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of enteroviral RNA in stool samples was carried out using specimens from 74 patients with aseptic meningitis. The primer pair and probe were derived from the highly conserved 5′ non‐coding enterovirus genomic region. Enteroviral RNA was detected in faeces of all 36 patients in whom an enterovirus was isolated from stool. The PCR assay yielded positive results in additionally 316 cases where enterovirus diagnoses were obtained by virus isolation from cerebrospinal fluid and/or serological tests. Thus, the positive outcome of the PCR assay was 39 (93%) among the 42 patients with enterovirus diagnoses. Furthermore, 7/19 (37%) cases with an etiology that was not established by other means were positive in the test indicating that the PCR assay may give considerable additional etiological information in patients with aseptic meningitis. The limit of RNA detectability in the PCR assay was about 100 TCID, when highly cytopathogenic enterovirus types (coxsackievirus type B5 and echovirus type 11) were tested.

The PCR was negative in all 13 patients with non‐enterovirus diagnoses except in one case with a herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. Since enterovirus‐specific IgM antibodies could be detected in this case a dual infection seemed probable. All the negative controls, included in the study, were PCR‐negative and no contamination was encountered.

This study proves the usefulness of the PCR assay for detection of enteroviral RNA in stool samples and suggests that the test may be an alternative to virus isolation for rapid enterovirus diagnosis in patients with aseptic meningitis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV‐2 infections in a rural Senegalese community
Authors: Le Guenno Bernard , Pison Gilles , Enel Catherine , Lagarde Emmanuel , Seck Cheikh
Published: March 2007

In a community study in rural Senegal, 22 human immunodeficiency virus type‐2 (HIV‐2) seropositive cases and 64 matched controls were examined clinically and evaluated immunologically. The presence of clinical signs was highly correlated with HIV‐2 seropositivity: 9 anti‐HIV‐2 positive patients and 5 controls presented with clinical signs (odd ratio [OR] = 8.2, confidence limits [CL] 2‐35). The main symptom associated with HIV‐2 seropositivity was a chronic cough (OR = 18.5, CL 1.8‐899). The presence of diarrhoea was not significant (OR = 3.1, CL 0.3‐3.5). The total number of CD8 cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, β2 microglobulin, and IgG level discriminated between seropositive and seronegative individuals (P < 0.05). When the anti‐HIV‐2 positives were grouped as 13 healthy and 9 sick people, red blood cells, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and β2 microglobulin differed significantly. Clinical symptoms were associated with immunodepression: 5 of 14 sick people had less than 500 CD4/μl vs. 1 of 72 healthy persons. This study at the community level emphasizes the clinical and immunological impact of HIV‐2 infection. Even if it presents with a longer incubation period than HIV‐1, this virus is a major threat to public health. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A variant serotype G3 rotavirus isolated from an unusually severe outbreak of diarrhea in piglets
Authors: Nagesha Hadya S. , Huang J. , Holmes Ian H.
Published: March 2007

About 80% of faecal samples from severe out‐break of porcine diarrhea (scours) were positive for rotavirus. Rotavirus positive samples were analyzed for their antigenic properties and amino acid sequences of the glycoprotein genes. These viruses could not be assigned to any serotypes using serotyping monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) developed for porcine rotaviruses [Nagesha and Holmes: Journal of Medical Virology 35:206–211, 1991 b]. When two such viruses were isolated in cell culture and analyzed by neutralization tests using hyperimmune sera they showed only one way antigenic relation with both human and porcine viruses belonging to serotype G3. In addition none of the serotyping MAbs neutralized these two virus isolates. There was no base variation between VP7 genes of faecal and cell culture isolates. Predicted amino acid sequences of the VP7 gene showed marked epitope variation from other porcine type G3 isolates with amino acid substitutions and an additional glycosylation site a t residue 238. This antigenic variation seen in rotaviruses appears similar to that of influenza viruses undergoing antigenic drift. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antibodies to a putative hepatitis C virus polyprotein in Japanese patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Yuki Nobukazu , Hayashi Norio , Kasahara Akinori , Hagiwara Hideki , Ueda Keiji , Fusamoto Hideyuki , Kamada Takenobu
Published: March 2007

To investigate the frequency of exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic liver disease, sera from Japanese patients were tested with the original anti‐HCV assay (Ortho) and an anti‐HCV assay based on synthetic peptides corresponding to a variety of regions in the HCV genome. Thirty‐one (67%) of 46 patients with chronic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis were anti‐HCV‐positive by the Ortho ELISA, 20 of whom were also positive by ELISA based on synthetic HCV peptides. Eight (53%) of the 15 patients negative by the Ortho ELISA tested positive for anti‐HCV by ELISA based on HCV peptides. Serum HCV RNA was detected in all cases positive for antibody to the HCV peptide and in 14 (78%) of 18 cases without antibody. Thirty‐seven hepatitis B virus carriers were without anti‐HCV by the Ortho ELISA and were negative for serum HCV RNA, six (16%) of whom were positive by ELISA based on HCV peptides. Antibody responses were directed against each synthetic HCV peptide used, with a considerable difference in incidence, indicating possible expression of the corresponding region in the course of HCV propagation. These findings indicate that exposure t o HCV may be more common than expected based on the results of the Ortho ELISA. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shedding of infectious virus and virus antigen during acute infection with respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Waris Matti , Meurman Olli , Mufson Maurice A. , Ruuskanen Olli , Halonen Pekka
Published: March 2007

Shedding of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) of hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection was studied using direct antigen detection by time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay, rapid identification of infectious virus in centrifugally inoculated cell cultures by immunoperoxidase staining and conventional virus culture. Sequential NPAs, in which also local RSV‐specific IgA response was measured, were collected from children with proven RSV infection. The shedding pattern was similar for both infectious virus and viral antigen. The overall agreement of the three methods was good (81%) in diagnostic specimens collected on admission, but markedly reduced (46%) in follow‐up specimens. Secretory IgA was abundant in specimens giving discrepant or negative results only. The proportion of patients who shed RSV was high (⩾87%) in the first week after on‐set of symptoms, and decreased sharply in the second week. An opposite temporal pattern was found in the proportion of patients with detectable RSV‐IgA in their secretions. Sequentially isolated strains were antigenically stable as determined by their reactivity with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies. The findings suggest that RSV shedding should be monitored by using more than one method for virus detection. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Capsaicin‐sensitive peptidergic neurons are involved in the zosteriform spread of herpes simplex virus infection
Authors: Stanberry Lawrence R. , Bourne Nigel , Bravo Fernando J. , Bernstein David I.
Published: March 2007

The intraneuronal transport of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an essential component in disease pathogenesis. Capsaicin, a neuropharmacologic agent lacking direct antiviral activity, has been shown to protect animals against HSV‐induced disease. It has been hypothesized that capsaicin acts by interfering with the intraneuronal transport of virus. Since animal models have been useful in studying the spread of virus, we used two guinea pig models of zosteriform herpes to examine the effect of capsaicin on HSV spread. Capsaicin was subcutaneously administered to Hartley guinea pigs prior t o intravaginal or cutaneous HSV‐2 inoculation. Treatment did not prevent the development of herpetic vesicles at the site of inoculation but significantly reduced the zosteriform spread of lesions in male and female animals. Further, after recovery from primary infection, capsaicin‐treated male guinea pigs were observed to have fewer days with recurrent herpetic lesions. These results suggest that capsaicin‐sensitive nerve fibers play a role in the pathogenesis of primary and recurrent HSV infections. Capsaicin appears to reduce the severity of cutaneous HSV infections by interfering with the spread of virus. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of antigen expressed in bacteria for detection of EBV‐specific thymidine kinase antibodies in sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Hsu Tsuey‐Ying , Pai Chien‐Ying , Shieh Shing‐Mey , Cho Show‐Mei , Liu Mei‐Ying , Chen Jen‐Yang , Yang Czau‐Siung
Published: March 2007

Two cDNA clones covering the N‐ and C‐terminal portions of the EBV BXLFI open reading frame were selected from a cDNA library derived from P3HR1 cells. The two clones were ligated, the N‐terminal untranslated region truncated, and the product inserted into an E. coli expression vector, pET3CP°. The fusion protein was expressed under control of the T7 phage phi 10 gene promoter and shown to possess thymidine kinase activity. The protein was then used as an antigen to detect antibody reactivities in serum samples of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and healthy blood donors. Using a 1 :400 dilution of serum samples in Western blot analyses, it was possible to differentiate the reactivities of serum IgA of NPC patients and healthy donors. The prevalence of positive reactivity to EBV TK in NPC was around 84%. The test was compared to others used for early diagnosis of NPC and was able to detect some patients who were negative in those tests. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of former and newly developed HBV assays in a third world setting
Authors: Zabaleta Mercedes E. , Toro Felix I. , Ruiz Maria E. , Colmenares Carmen J. , Bianco Nicolas E. , Machado Irma V.
Published: March 2007

Newly available HBV serological assays have not been established routinely in most underdeveloped countries. Utilizing enzyme‐immune assays to determine the presence of pre‐S1 antigen and anti‐pre‐S2, and using two conventional hybridization techniques and the PCR assay to detect HBV‐DNA, we studied 30 HBsAg chronic carriers and as a reference group 10 subjects whose only HBV routine marker was anti‐HBc. Seventynine percent of the HBeAg positive carriers showed detectable HBV‐DNA by a non‐radioactive slot‐blotting technique. The PCR assay was more sensitive than the slot‐blotting technique, detecting HBV‐DNA in anti‐HBe positive patients with moderate or normal ALT activity. Pre‐S1 antigen was mostly related t o the presence of HBsAg and anti‐pre‐S2 was associated with active viremic state, increased ALT activity (ranges 51 to 640 IU/L), and with self‐limited HBV infection. The presence of HBV‐DNA i n the group with anti‐HBc only was detectable solely by the PCR assay. For an underdeveloped country the addition of a PCR assay or pre‐S1 anti‐pre‐S protein tests to the current assessment procedures of HBV chronic infection should be used only i n selective cases. HBeAg/anti‐HBe serological evaluation and HBV‐DNA detection by a non‐isotopic conventional hybridization technique still remain as useful tools to screen initially for the presence of viremia in chronic HBsAg carriers. The presence of HBV‐DNA in individuals with anti‐HBc only suggests that anti‐HBc screening should be maintained and expanded to all the blood banks of less industrialized countries where the rate of HBV infection in apparently healthy people tends to be high. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among dentists in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Mark Yen‐Ping , Hahn Liang‐Jiunn , Hong Chi‐Yuan , Kao Jia‐Horng , Chen Ding‐Shinn
Published: March 2007

To evaluate whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an occupational hazard in the dental environment, serum samples collected in 1990–1991 from 461 dentists were tested for the antibody to HCV (anti‐HCV) with first‐ and second‐generation HCV enzyme‐linked immunoassays (EIAs). Five of the 363 (1.38%) serum samples were reactive by the first‐generation (C100–3) HCV EIA. Of the same 363 samples and the other 98 samples, 3 (0.65%) were reactive by the second‐generation EIA. Those samples positive by the first‐ and/or second‐generation HCV EIA were analyzed further by cDNA/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of HCV RNA. Only 1 of the 5 first‐generation EIA reactive samples were PCR positive. These results are comparable to the anti‐HCV prevalence of healthy blood donors (0.95% by C100–3 assay) and pregnant women (0.63% by recombinant immunoblot assay). We conclude that the prevalence of HCV infection among dentists in Taiwan is low, and there is no increased risk of HCV infection through the practice of dentistry, at least in our area. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein by recombinant baculovirus and use for the detection of E7 antibodies in sera from cervical carcinoma patients
Authors: Stacey Simon N. , Ghosh Anna , Bartholomew Jennifer S. , Tindle Robert W. , Stern Peter L. , Mackett Michael , Arrand John R.
Published: March 2007

Although the presence of serum antibodies against the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV‐16) E7 protein has been linked with cervical cancer, currently available assays detect antibodies in only ca. 40% of carcinoma patients. The dependence of these serological assays on synthetic target antigens which present only linear epitopes may be a limiting factor. In order to produce a more realistic target antigen for use in serological assays, we have expressed the HPV‐16 E7 protein in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus vector. Two major E7 forms of ca. 18kDa and 16kDa were produced and characterised. The 16kDa component was shown to be truncated at the N‐terminus. A radioimmunoprecipitation assay was developed for the detection of anti‐E7 antibodies in human sera. This assay showed a marked increase in detection rate compared with a western blotting method based on bacterially derived E7 fusion proteins. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Infection of epithelial cell line HEp‐2 with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is CD4 dependent
Authors: Nottet Hans S. L. M. , Janse Ingmar , De Graaf Loek , Bakker Leendert J. , Visser Maarten R. , Verhoef Jan
Published: March 2007

HEp‐2 cells, human epithelial cells derived from a larynx carcinoma, were found to be highly susceptible to infection with HIV‐1 stain Illb and MN, but not to infection with the monotropic strain IllBa‐L or the clinical isolate HIV‐1AT. HEp‐2 cells infected with HIV‐1IIIb continuously secreted high levels of p24 antigen, while no cytopathic effects were observed. Although no CD4 antigen could be detected on the cells by flow cytometric analysis, CD4 mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase PCR. Furthermore, infection could be blocked by anti‐CD4 monoclonal antibody OKT4a indicating a CD4 mediated viral entry in HEp‐2 cells. HEp‐2 cells are commonly used in clinical virology for the culture of different viruses from clinical specimens. HEp‐2 cells should therefore be handled with caution as they may potentially become infected with HIV. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of duck hepatitis B virus replication by interferon‐γ
Authors: Lavine Joel E. , Ganem Don
Published: March 2007

Interferons have been evaluated extensively as candidate antiviral agents in hepadnaviral infection. We examined the effect of recombinant human interferon‐γ on duck hepatitis B virus replication in human hepatoma cells (Huh 7) transiently transfected with cloned duck hepatitis B virus DNA. Cells transfected in the presence of interferon‐γ display a dose‐dependent reduction in the levels of encapsidated replicative intermediates in the cytoplasm, as judged by Southern blotting of purified viral core DNA. The effect is observed at inferferon‐γ concentrations that do not affect growth rate or viability of Huh 7 cells or their transfection efficiency. Northern analysis of duck hepatitis B virus transcripts in transfected cells demonstrated markedly diminished levels of pre‐ and subgenomic RNA in interferon‐γ‐treated cells. Nuclear run‐on analysis was performed to determine whether these transcripts were diminished due to decreased rates of transcription initiation or increased rates of RNA degradation. Levels of transcription initiation were unaffected by interferon‐γ, implying that duck hepatitis B virus transcripts in interferon‐γ‐treated cells are degraded more rapidly than in untreated cells. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in levels of anti‐dengue virus IgG subclasses in patients with disease of varying severity
Authors: Thein Soe , Aaskov John , Myint Thein Thein , Shwe Than Nu , Saw Tin Tin , Zaw Aung
Published: March 2007

Extensive complement activation precedes onset of shock in dengue patients and complement "split products" C3a and C5a could be responsible, directly or indirectly, for the increased vascular permeability and disseminated intravascular coagulation which characterises dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) dengue shock syndrome (DSS). As IgG subclasses vary in their capacity to activate the classical complement pathway after combining with antigen, we have used an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess levels of lgG1–4 against each dengue serotype in acute and convalescent sera from patients with disease of varying severity. Acute phase sera from patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS) contained higher levels of anti‐dengue antibodies of the IgG1, complement fixing, subclass than similar sera from dengue fever (DF) patients. Conversely, acute phase sera from DHF and DSS patients contained lower levels of anti‐dengue antibodies of the poor complement activating lgG2 subclass than acute phase sera from DF patients. No significant differences were detected between the levels of anti‐dengue lgG3 and lgG4 antibody in acute phase sera from DF, DHF, and DSS patients. With the exception of levels of antidengue lgG2 antibody from DHF patients which were lower than those from DF and DSS patients, levels of anti‐dengue IgG1, lgG2, lgG3, and lgG4 were similar in convalescent sera from all patients. These results Provide a possible explanation for the activation of the serum complement system which precedes onset of shock in severe dengue infections. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aetiology of acute sporadic non‐A, non‐B viral hepatitis in India
Authors: Arankalle V. A. , Chobe L. P. , Jha J. , Chadha M. S. , Banerjee K. , Favorov M. O. , Kalinina T. , Fields H.
Published: March 2007

Non‐A, non‐B (NANB) hepatitis viruses are now classified as hepatitis E (enterically transmitted) and hepatitis C (parenterally transmitted). India experiences a large number of epidemics of the enteric disease every year. In addition, about 70% of the sporadic cases among adults are also due to NANB hepatitis. With the availability of an immunoblot assay for the detection of anti‐HEVIgM and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of HCV‐RNA, serum samples from epidemic and sporadic NANB patients were screened for these markers. We found that a large number of cases from the epidemics were HEV, though a few remained undiagnosed, while of the sporadic cases only a few could be diagnosed as HCV or HEV; a large proportion remained undiagnosed. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C among institutionalized psychiatric patients in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Ting‐Tsung , Lin Huang , Yen Yi‐Shiu , Wu Hua‐Lin
Published: March 2007

To investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) in a psychiatric institution in Taiwan, where hepatitis B virus (HBV) is hyperendemic, a total of 780 patients with psychiatric disorders were studied. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used for testing HBsAg and anti‐HCV. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher than that of anti‐HCV among these patients (18.1% vs. 6.8%, P < 0.0001). The HBsAg carrier rate in these patients was consistent with that of the general population, with a trend for HBsAg carrier rate to be lower in the aged and in females. In contrast, the prevalence of anti‐HCV was higher in these patients than in general population. Anti‐HCV positivity was found more frequently in patients who had received blood transfusion previously (24% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.05). The majority (92%) of patients with positive anti‐HCV did not have a history of apparent parenteral exposure. The prevalence of anti‐HCV increased significantly with duration of the psychiatric disorder. The prevalence of anti‐HCV also tended to increase with duration of hospitalization but without reaching statistical significance. These findings suggest that these institutionalized psychiatric patients contract hepatitis B, as does the general population in Taiwan, and they should be considered as a specific risk group for hepatitis C infection. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mapping T‐cell epitopes of rubella virus structural proteins E1, E2, and C recognized by T‐cell lines and clones derived from infected and immunized populations
Authors: Ou Dawei , Chong Pele , Tingle Aubrey J. , Gillam Shirley
Published: March 2007

To design a safe and effective synthetic peptide vaccine against rubell virus (RV) infection, it is necessary to identify immunodominant T‐cell epitopes of RV structural proteins. To define such epitopes, 49 overlapping synthetic peptides (17–34 residues in length) corresponding to more than 951% of the amino acid sequence of RV virion proteins E1 (23 peptides) and C (11 peptides) and all of E2 (15 peptides) were synthesized and tested for their capacities to induce proliferative responses of rubella‐specific T‐cell lines and T‐cell clones derived from 4 study groups (5 women infected with RV in pregnancy, 5 patients with congenital rubella syndrome, 5 seropositive healthy donors, and 5 RV vaccine recipients). The most frequently recognized epitopes were E1–21 (residues 358–377) with 11/20 responders, E2–4 (residues 54–74) with 6/20 responders, and C11 (residues 255–280) with 11/20 responders, respectively. E1–10 (residues 174–193), E1–16 (residues 272–291) and E1–18 (residues 307–326) were responded to strongly by corresponding T‐cell clones, and were recognized by 4 or 5 T‐cell lines. T‐cell lines derived from three congenital rubella syndrome patients did not respond to any of the synthetic peptides. The results showed that more T‐cell epitopes were present in E1 (19/23) and C (10/11) than in E2 (8/15). The identification of T cell sites recognized frequently by RV‐infected or ‐immunized populations could provide the basis for selecting candidate T‐cell epitopes for the development of an effective synthetic vaccine against rubella. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytomegalovirus‐specific in vitro antibody production by peripheral blood lymphocytes from renal transplant recipients with CMV infection
Authors: Segondy Michel , Barat Laurent , Mourad Georges , Huguet Marie‐France , Serre Arlette , Vendrell Jean‐Pierre
Published: March 2007

Cytomegalovirus‐specific in vitro antibody production (CMV‐IVAP) by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was investigated in 12 renal transplant recipients. CMV‐IVAP, CMV‐serology, and viral cultures were carried out weekly during at least 8 weeks after transplantation. Nine episodes of CMV infection occurred in eight patients. CMV‐IVAP was positive in eight episodes; IgG and/or IgA and/or IgM antibodies reacting with several CMV polypeptides were secreted by PBL. In two patients with primary CMV infection, only IgA antibodies were detected. Cytomegalovirus cultures were positive in eight episodes and serological evidence of CMV infection was obtained in five episodes. In one case, CMV‐IVAP was observed before CMV isolation and in another case, before serological evidence of CMV infection. Our study indicates that CMV‐IVAP could represent an additional tool for the diagnosis of CMV infection. Our study indicates that CMV‐IVAP could represent an additional tool for the diagnosis of CMV infection in renal transplant recipients. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nine‐year follow‐up study of a plasma‐derived hepatitis B vaccine in a rural African setting
Authors: Tabor Edward , Cairns James , Gerety Robert J. , Bayley Anne C.
Published: March 2007

One hundred and one of 255 recipients of a plasma‐derived hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated in 1990, 9 years after the first vaccine dose in a study in Zambia to evaluate the efficacy of one, two, or three doses. In 1983, 2 years after the first vaccine dose, antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) had been detectable in 90 of these 101 participants (89%). In 1990, anti‐HBs was still detectable in 72 of 101 (71%), and was present at a protective level ( ≥ 10 mlU ml) in 68 of 101 (67%). Although the original vaccine study elicited a protective level of antibody in a greater percentage of children and adolescents than in adults, there were no significant differences among the three groups at 9 years. (In 1990, anti‐HBs was still detectable in 52 of 70 [74%] who had had no serologic markers of the hepatitis B virus in 1981, and a protective level was detected in 47 of 70 [67%].) A protective level of anti‐HBs was detected in 1990 in 26 of 36 (72%) recipients of three doses and in 23 of 31 (74%) recipients of two doses; the slightly lower prevalence among recipients of one dose (19 of 34 [56%]) was not statistically significant. However, between the years 1983–1990, hepatitis B virus infections had occurred in one of 36 (3%) of those who had been vaccinated with three doses, one of 31 (3%) vaccinated with two doses, and eight of 34 (24%) of those vaccinated with one dose (P < .02 for either two or three doses compared with one dose). These data support the long‐term immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a two‐ or three‐dose regimen of the hepatitis B vaccine in a rural African setting. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protective activity of lipid A analogue GLA‐60 against murine cytomegalovirus infection in mice
Authors: Ikeda Satoru , Neyts Johan , Matsuura Motohiro , Kiso Makoto , Hasegawa Akira , Nishimura Chiaki , De Clercq Erik
Published: March 2007

A chemically synthesized lipid A subunit analogue, GLA‐60 (2‐deoxy‐4–0‐phosphono‐2‐[(3R)‐3‐hydroxytetradecanamido] ‐ 3 ‐ 0‐ [(3R) ‐ 3 ‐tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl]‐D‐glucose), has many of the activities of endotoxins but little, if any, toxicity. We investigated the protective activity of GLA‐60 against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in NMRI mice. Intraperitoneal administration of GLA‐60 at 1 day before MCMV infection at doses of 1, 10, or 100 μg per mouse significantly reduced mortality. GLA‐60 stimulated peritoneal natural killer (NK) cell and macrophage activities, and these activities were abolished by in vitro treatment with anti‐asialo GM1 antibody and anti‐Mac1 antibody, respectively. GLA‐60 proved also protective against MCMV infection in mice in which either NK cells or macrophages were depleted by in vivo treatment with anti‐asialo GM1 or anti‐Mac1 antibody. The anti‐MCMV activity of GLA‐60 can at least be partially attributed to activation of NK cells and macrophages. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies in saliva using antibody capture radioimmunoassay
Authors: Perry Keith R. , Brown David W. G. , Parry John V. , Panday Sohrab , Pipkin Christopher , Richards Alison
Published: March 2007

Antibody capture radioimmunoassays were developed for detecting virus specific IgM (MAC‐RIA) and IgG (GACRIA) to measles, mumps, and rubella and used to investigate saliva as an alternative specimen to serum for diagnosis.

Saliva was collected from 63 patients with measles, 19 with mumps, and 150 with rubella, which were all clinically diagnosed and serologically confirmed. Virus specific IgM was detected in 92% of measles, 75% of mumps, and 100% of rubella saliva samples collected during the first week of illness. Between 1 and 5 weeks after onset virus specific IgM was detected in 100% of saliva specimens. After the 5th week the proportion of reactive specimens declined.

The specificity of the MACRIA tests was established by testing saliva samples collected from blood donors for measles (88), mumps (88), and rubella IgM (91). All of the saliva specimens tested for measles and rubella specific IgM were unreactive, 1/88 specimens tested for mumps specific IgM contained significant reactivity. Saliva specimens collected from acute cases of MMR were tested in all 3 MACRIAs. A small proportion of saliva samples contained detectable IgM of more than one virus infection.

Rubella and measles specific IgG was detected in the saliva of all cases from the 4th or 5th day of illness, respectively. Detection of mumps specific IgG was less successful.

We have demonstrated that virus specific IgM can be reliably detected in saliva samples collected from acute cases of measles, mumps, and rubella and identified 1–5 weeks after onset of illness as the optimum time for collection of samples. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Infection of human fetal dorsal root neurons with wild type varicella virus and the Oka strain varicella vaccine
Authors: Somekh Eli , Levin Myron J.
Published: March 2007

The relative ability of a varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) clinical isolate and a live attenuated VZV vaccine strain (Oka) to infect human neurons was determined in vitro. VZV infection of neurons prepared in culture from dorsal root ganglia of fetuses was assessed using an infectious center assay. Cultures were infected with 50–5,000 pfu of either VZV and assayed at either 24 or 48 hours post‐VZV infection. Cultures infected with the clinical VZV isolate had seven‐fold more infected neurons than cultures infected with the vaccine strain VZV. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Persistence of Japanese encephalitis virus in the human nervous system
Authors: Ravi V. , Desai Anita S. , Shenoy Poornima K. , Satishchandra P. , Chandramuki A. , Gourie‐Devi M.
Published: March 2007

Immunological and virological evidence for persistence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in the human nervous system is described in 16/323 (5%) laboratory‐confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis. In 9/16 patients, JEV specific IgM antibodies were detected in the CSF even at 50–180 days after the onset of symptoms. Similarly, in 7/16 patients, apart from IgM antibodies, viral antigen was also present in the CSF beyond the third week of illness and in one patient it could be detected even at 117 days. Infectious virus could be isolated from the CSF beyond the third week of illness in 3/16 patients. In one patient, JEV was isolated from the CSF on three consecutive occasions at 90, 110, and 117 days after onset of clinical symptoms. These findings suggest that JEV persists in the nervous system of a small proportion of patients. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus in serum samples from patients with hepatitis E virus infection
Authors: Chau Kurt H. , Dawson George J. , Bile Khalif M. , Magnius Lars O. , Sjogren Maria H. , Mushahwar Isa K.
Published: March 2007

A newly developed assay for IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus (IgA anti‐HEV) was used to study 145 serum samples collected during an outbreak of an enterically transmitted hepatitis that occurred in 3 villages in the lower Shebeli region of Southern Somalia between January, 1988 and November, 1989. A total of 52.4% of the afflicted patients were found positive for IgA anti‐HEV, and 73.1% of these were also positive for IgM. Both antibodies disappeared during the convalescence period. Similar results were also seen in serum obtained from sporadic cases of acute waterborne hepatitis in Pakistan. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genomic typing of BK virus in clinical specimens by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products
Authors: Jin Li , Gibson Patricia E. , Booth James C. , Clewley Jonathan P.
Published: March 2007

Two hundred and twelve urine specimens, from several clinical groups, were examined for BK virus (BKV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the VP1 region of BKV DNA. Positive results were obtained on 14 specimens from 44 post‐transplant patients (31.8%), 10 specimens from 39 pregnant women (25.6%), and 5 specimens from 100 children (5%) but not on any specimens from 29 laboratory staff. Twentyeight of the amplified BKV genomes, 19 from urine specimens, eight from culture fluid of inoculated tissue, and also one from a throat washing were directly sequenced from single‐stranded templates immobilized via a biotinylated primer; it was possible to assign all to one of the four subtypes of BKV which had previously been identified on the basis of variation in nucleotide sequence of the VP1 region. Serological subgroup classification correlated with the genomic subtyping results in 21 of the isolates. The distribution of the BKV subtypes and the clinical status of the infected individuals are discussed.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 genes in human mononuclear cells and affecting cell‐mediated immunity
Authors: Kuo Yuh‐Chi , Liu Wu‐Tse , Lin Ching‐Yuang
Published: March 2007

To evaluate whether herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) replicates in freshly isolated human mononuclear cells (HMNC) and results in cellmediated immunity, HMNC purified from the peripheral blood of a healthy HSV‐1‐seronegative individual were infected with HSV‐1 (KOS strain). The kinetic data indicated that HSV‐1 particles were detected in HMNC at 9 hr postinfection, and the highest HSV‐1 titer was obtained at 24 hr postinfection. It was found that the newly synthesized HSV‐1 DNA increased in HMNC corresponding to the duration of time postinfection. The HSV‐1 tk mRNA was detected in HSV‐1‐infected HMNC by Northern blot analysis. The Western blot analysis indicated that the HSV‐1 infected HMNC could express the viral proteins. These results suggest that HSV‐1 replicates in freshly isolated HMNC and expresses its DNA, RNA, and proteins. Interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) production and cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) were also determined in HSV‐1‐infected HMNC but were lower than those found in uninfected HMNC. On the other hand, HSV‐1 DNA was detectable in HMNC of patients suffering from recurrent HSV‐1 infection. The results show that, in the recrudescent phase, the patients'; HMNC contain more HSV‐1 DNA than in the convalescent phase. We conclude that the impairments of immune responses are related to the infection of HMNC by HSV‐1.
Activity of the keggin polyoxotungstate pm‐19 against herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in immunosuppressed mice: Role of peritoneal macrophage activation
Authors: Ikeda Satoru , Nishiya Shigeki , Yamamoto Akihiro , Yamase Toshihiro , Nishimura Chiaki , Clercq Erik De
Published: March 2007

The in vivo antiviral activity of the Keggin polyoxotungstate PM‐19 [K7(PTi2W10O40) · 6H2O] against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) was investigated in mice immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide (CY). When PM‐19 was administered intraperitoneally to immunosuppressed mice for 3 days (once daily) starting at the time of infection, it prevented death due to HSV‐2 encephalitis in a dose‐dependent manner (10–25 mg/kg). The in vivo anti‐HSV‐2 activity of PM‐19 was superior to that of acyclovir. Intraperitoneal administration of PM‐19 to the immunosuppressed mice significantly increased the number of peritoneal cells, especially macrophages. PM‐19 did not stimulate interferon‐inducing activity or natural killer cell activity, but markedly enhanced peritoneal macrophage functions: (1) phagocytic activity as assessed by measuring the amount of51Cr‐labeled sheep red blood cells taken into the macrophages, and (2) extrinsic antiviral activity as monitored by reduction in the numbers of plaque formed upon cocultivation of HSV‐2‐infected HEL cells with the macrophages. These results point to the role of peritoneal macrophage activation in the activity of PM‐19 against HSV‐2 infection in immunosuppressed mice.
Slow maturation of IgG1 avidity and persistence of specific IgM in congenital rubella: Implications for diagnosis and immunopathology
Authors: Thomas H. I. Janet , Morgan‐Capner Peter , Cradock‐Watson John E. , Enders Gisela , Best Jennifer M. , O'shea Siobhan
Published: March 2007

Without appropriately timed specimens, serological confirmation of congenital rubella infection may be a problem. We have compared the persistence of specific IgM and low avidity specific IgG1 in 141 sera from 120 cases of serologically confirmed congenital rubella infection with the known time scales for postnatal primary rubella. The results demonstrate that the maturation of the immune response to the rubella virus is abnormally slow in congenital rubella cases both in terms of the isotype switch and especially the development of high avidity specific IgG1. Thus avidity studies may permit serological confirmation of congenital rubella for longer than is possible with tests currently in use. The pathological implications of prolonged low avidity antibody proudction are discussed.
Serologic markers of viral hepatitis A, B, C, and D in patients with hemophilia
Authors: Kumar Ashir , Kulkarni Roshni , Murray Dennis L. , Gera Renuka , Scott‐Emuakpor Ajovi B. , Bosma Kathy , Penner John A.
Published: March 2007

Forty‐one patients with hemophilia A were studied for the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C (non‐A and non‐B hepatitis), and delta hepatitis (hepatitis D). Ten of 41 (24.4%) patients demonstrated hepatitis A antibody and 31 of 41 (75.6%) patients had a serologic marker for previous hepatitis B infection; four of these 31 patients (13%) also demonstrated antibody to delta agent (hepatitis D). Thirty‐seven of 41 (90.2%) patients demonstrated antibody for hepatitis C. Nine of 31 (29%) patients with a hepatitis B marker (no hepatitis B vaccinees) were negative for anti‐HBc but positive for anti‐HBs; all of these nine patients were HIV antibody positive, although they had no overt immunodeficiency. Twenty‐six of 41 (63.5%) patients were HIV antibody positive. Of HIV antibody positive patients, 27%, 88%, and 100% demonstrated evidence of a previous hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, respectively. Of HIV antibody negative patients; 20%, 53%, and 73% of the patients demonstrated evidence of a previous hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infections, respectively. The difference between HIV antibody positive and HIV antibody negative groups was not significant for hepatitis A but was significant for hepatitis B (P < 0.001) and hepatitis C (P < .001). Of the 31 patients with a hepatitis B serologic marker, all had antibody to hepatitis C. Of 10 patients, without a hepatitis B serologic marker, only 6 (60%) had antibody to hepatitis C. Clinically, none of our patients demonstrated any evidence of liver disease; however, 10 patients reported a previous history of hepatitis. These data suggest that patients with hemophilia in the United States, particularly those with HIV antibody, have high prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections.