bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Testing for antibodies to AIDS‐associated retrovirus (HTLV‐III/LAV) by indirect fixed cell immunofluorescence: Specificity, sensitivity, and applications
Authors: Hedenskog Mona , Dewhurst Stephen , Ludvigsen Carl , Sinangil Faruk , Rodriguez Luis , Wu YinTang , Volsky David J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSeropositivity to the AIDS‐associated retrovirus, HTLV‐IIULAV, has profound implications. Simple and reliable tests are needed to detect such antibodies. A rapid, sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) on acetone‐fixed virusproducing CEM/LAV‐N1 cells was adapted for detection of human antibodies to HTLV‐III/LAV. Specific and nonspecific patterns of immunofluorescent reactivity were easily distinguished, and results paralleled those obtained by Western blotting and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP), indicating that there is no need to confirm IFA positivity. In contrast, the commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was less reliable. False positives occurred with sera from seven hemophiliacs that were negative on Western blots, and false‐negative reactions were observed on two occasions. These involved low‐titer AIDS‐patients' sera that were positive on Western blots, and from one of which virus was successfully isolated. Our results emphasize the requirement for confirmatory assays when the ELISA test is used for primary screening of sera for antibodies to HTLV‐LII/LAV.The IFA method is especially well‐suited to quantitative analysis of serum antibody levels. Our data suggest that serum antibody titers rise as disease progression occurs, ultimately falling as severe complications ensue.It is suggested that in laboratories where the demand for HTLV‐III/LAV antibody testing is not excessive (1,000–2,000 serahonth), IFA could serve as the only serological assay for both screening and epidemiological purposes.
Chronic Neurologic Disease in Junín Virus‐Infected Rats
Authors: Weissenbacher Mercedes C. , Lascano Eduardo F. , Avila María M. , Berría María I. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine whether Junín virus persistence in CNS of rats was capable of inducing late neurologic disease. Following intracerebral inoculation of newborn animals with XJ strain, three distinct stages could be discerned: an early phase of acute disease, up to 30 days pi, with 5% mortality; an intermediate one, extending to 280 days pi, without clinical signs but with evident viral persistence; and a final period of chronic illness, featuring clinical neurologic syndrome, severe perivascular inflammatory reaction, PAP‐labeled viral antigen in a few cerebral and cerebellar neurons, and virus recovery only by coculture. Late neurologic disease seems associated to the lack of effective clearance of brain virus, leading to viral persistence and long lasting immunologic stimulation. The importance of animal models for pathogenic studies on CNS persistent viral infections leading to late neurologic disease is stressed.
Persistence of Free HBV DNA in Body Secretions and Liver Despite Loss of Serum HBV DNA After Interferon‐Induced Seroconversion
Authors: Fagan Elizabeth Ann , Alexander Graeme J. M. , Davison Fergus , Williams Roger 
Published: March 2007

AbstractFollowing interferon therapy, a chronic hepatitis B (HBV) carrier lost all serum markers of active viral replication and became anti‐HBe positive but remained positive for free and replicative HBV‐DNA in semen, saliva, urine, and liver four months later. At 12 months, when he also developed anti‐HBs, urine and saliva analysed for free HBV‐DNA were positive. Despite histological remission and loss of HBV‐DNA from serum, the potential for transmission of HBV and reactivation of disease remain.
Prevalence of Antibodies to Enteroviruses and Varicella‐Zoster Virus Among Residents and Overseas Volunteers at Agricultural Settlements in Israel
Authors: Margalith M. , Fattal B. , Shuval H. I. , Morag A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWithin the framework of a comprehensive study of the correlation between enteric diseases and wastewater utilization in agricultural settlements (kibbutzim) the prevalence of several viral antibodies was examined among kibbutz residents and overseas volunteers. The latter were assumed to be a group highly susceptible to local pathogens. For the purpose of this study the presence of antibodies against eight enteroviruses [Coxsackieviruses (COX) types A9, B1, B3, and B4, echoviruses (ECHO) types 4, 7, and 9, and hepatitis A virus (HAV)] and a nonenterovirus, varicella‐zoster virus (VZV), was tested in their sera. The prevalence of these viral antibodies among 342 volunteers (aged 18 to 34 years) upon their arrival at the kibbutzim was compared with that of 176 kibbutz residents of the same age. Seroconversion (ie, acquisition of viral antibodies) was tested in 115 of the volunteers two months after their arrival at the kibbutz.The prevalence of antibodies against each of the eight enteroviruses studied was found to be significantly higher among the kibbutz residents, but the prevalence of antibodies to VZV was similarly high in both groups (52% for volunteers and 59% for kibbutz residents). The mean antibody prevalence for the seven COX and ECHO viruses was 2.1 antibodies/person in the volunteer group v 4.7 antibodies/person among the kibbutz residents. Fifty‐eight percent (58 %) of the residents had antibodies to HAV as compared with 14% of the volunteers.No correlation was found between seropositivity (ie, previous exposure) to various enteroviruses and the immune status to HAV or VZV in both kibbutz residents and volunteers. About 80% of the volunteer population had antibodies to ≤ 2 viruses/person v ≤4 viruses/person among the entire (almost 100%) population of kibbutz residents of the same age group. Volunteers tested after a two‐month stay showed a mean seroconversion rate of 9.4% per virus (ie, 4.7% per one month, as compared with 1.1 % of the calculated mean for kibbutz residents). Thus, it appears that the highly susceptible volunteer group from abroad became infected during their stay at kibbutzim at a rate of 4.3 times faster than the local residents.
Expression of the X Gene of Hepatitis B Virus
Authors: Pugh John C. , Weber Christian , Houston Heather , Murray Kenneth 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome carries an open reading frame of 462 bases, the X region, but the corresponding protein has yet to be identified as a natural product. In rodent cells cotransformed with the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus and HBV DNA, however, Gough [1983] identified a mRNA that hybridises uniquely with the X region of the HBV genome. A large fragment of the X region was inserted into plasmid pCL19LDY‐T in order to produce, in Escherichia coli, the X gene product, HBxAg, as a polypeptide fused to the N‐terminal part of the phage þcro gene product. Antisera raised against this fused polypeptide gave positive immunofluorescence reactions with the transformed rodent cells. This provides direct evidence for the expression of the HBxAg gene in eukaryotic cells transformed with HBV DNA. The approach used here should be generally applicable.
Radioimmunoassay for the detection of IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus and its use as a prognostic indicator of HSV excretion in transplant recipients
Authors: Berry Neil J. , Grundy Jane E. , Griffiths Paul D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe report the development of a solid‐phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), using a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the Fc portion of human IgG as the radiolabelled detecting antibody. The binding ratio to test antigen at a single serum dilution, 1:100, correlated significantly with the endpoint titre by radioimmunoassay and with neutralising antibody titre. When compared to neutralisation the radioimmunoassay had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93%. We believe that the anomalous results are not false positives but represent an increased sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay. We found, by either radioimmunoassay or neutralisation, that high levels of antibody prior to transplantation were associated with a significantly increased risk of HSV excretion post‐transplantation in both renal and bone marrow transplant recipients. Thus the radioimmunoassay is a sensitive, specific, and rapid test that can be used as a prognostic indicator of HSV excretion in transplant recipients.
High protection of animals lethally infected with influenza virus by aprotinin‐rimantadine combination
Authors: Zhirnov Oleg P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe successful therapeutic synergism of aprotinin and rimantadine, which are known to attack different viral targets, was demonstrated in influenza‐virus infected animals. Combined treatment with these drugs of mice infected with a highly lethal does of mouse‐adapted influenza virus prevented the development of separate administration of aprotinin and rimantadine induced 35% and 15% protection, respectively.
Detection of viral antigens in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex virus encephalitis
Authors: Bos Cees A. , Wilterdink Jan B. , Scheffer Albert J. , Olding‐Stenkvist Elisabeth 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThirty‐two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from eighteen patients with confirmed herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) were assayed by an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of viral antigens. The results are expressed as an antigen ratio distinguishing between herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens containing samples and negative samples. Judged by this criterion a positive result was obtained in 33 % of the patients.Overall, 25% of the CSF samples from HSE patients were positive. In one out of 33 control patients with other neurological disorders a positive antigen ratio was found.Two or more CSF samples were available from eleven patients. In six of these, the second or later samples showed a decreased antigen ratio when compared to the first CSF sample. An increase of the anti‐HSV antibody titer was seen in the CSF of five of these six patients. Five out of six patients with a decreasing antigen ratio had an unfavorable outcome of their encephalitis, while a favorable outcome was seen in four of the five patients with an increasing or steady antigen ratio. A decrease of the antigen ratio in the course of HSE can be explained by the presence of immune complexes in CSF and may indicate a poor prognosis.
Isolation of inoue‐melnick virus from human meningioma‐derived cell cultures and detection of antibody in patients with meningioma
Authors: Inoue Y. K. , Nishibe Y. , Takeuchi J. , Uchida Y. , Handa H. , Hollinshead A. C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInoue‐Melnick virus (IMV) was isolated from six of seven human meningioma‐derived cell cultures, while the virus was not isolated from six other brain tumor cell cultures. Sera of 145 consecutive neurosurgical inpatients were tested for IMV‐neutralizing antibody. Of 26 patients with meningioma, 22 were positive for IMV antibody (84.6%). Of the remaining 119 patients, 16 were positive.
Chronic, relapsing encephalomyelitis associated with experimental measles virus infection
Authors: Carrigan Donald R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAn experimental central nervous system (CNS) disease that bears some similarity to human multiple sclerosis and that is associated with infection by measles virus has been induced in hamsters. This disease has been described previously (Carrigan and Johnson: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 77:4297‐4300, 1980). At that time, it was believed that the disease was restricted to the spinal cords of affected animals. The present work demonstrates that the disease can also affect the brain, describes in more complete detail the types of clinical disease that occur, illustrates the histopathological changes found in diseased CNS tissues, and documents more accurately the incidence of the disease in the virally infected animals. In summary, the disease, which has now been termed chronic, relapsing encephalomyelitis (CRE) is associated with neonatal CNS infection of hamsters with a particular strain of measles virus. CRE occurs in approximately 12% of animals that survive the acute viral infection, and of these affected animals about half develop detectable clinical signs of neurological disease. The balance of the animals have subclinical disease detectable only by histopathologic changes within the CNS. These lesions are composed of varying degrees of demyelination, necrosis, mononuclear cell inflammation, and gliosis.
Infection of a poikilothermic cell line (XL‐2) with eastern equine encephalitis and western equine encephalitis viruses
Authors: Morier L. , Cantelar N. , Soler M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractEastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) was in Cuba before the 1940s; the virus has been isolated from horses, birds, and rodents during epizootic as well as interepizootic periods. The only isolation of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) virus was from a sick pigeon found in the vicinity of Havana University. Both viruses can cause human disease; the isolation of WEE virus from the centre of an urban area emphasises the need for the prompt isolation and rapid identification of these agents.The object of this work was to compare the sensitivity of a continuous cell line (XL‐2) from the toad, Xenopus laevis, with primary chick embryo cell cultures (CEC) routinely used for isolation as well as assay of these viruses. Both cell systems were infected with EEE virus isolated from horse brain and WEE virus isolated from a sick pigeon. A clear cytopathic effect (CPE) consisting of rounding and detachment of cells was observed in both cell cultures infected with the two viruses. By 18 hours post‐infection, there was partial destruction of the cell monolayer and by 24 hours the CPE was total. The infectious titre of EEE and WEE viruses in XL‐2 and CEC were similar. Both viruses produced small plaques (0.5‐1.0 mm diameter) in XL‐2 cells.Studies on the sensitivity of the XL‐2 cells for direct isolation of the two viruses from field samples and for the detection of Cuban flaviviruses by the immunofluorescence test are in progress.
Use of monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection by the detection of early antigen fluorescent foci (DEAFF) in cell culture
Authors: Stirk P. R. , Griffiths P. D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA pool of seven monoclonal antibodies, each reactive with cytomegalovirus (CMV) early antigens, was used in an indirect immunofluorescence method for the rapid detection of CMV‐infected fibroblasts following inoculation with clinical specimens. A total of 1,639 specimens were examined, and the results were compared with those of conventional isolation procedures. The detection of CMV by early antigen fluorescent foci (DEAFF) was found to be comparable, both in terms of specificity and sensitivity, to that of conventional cell culture. Its great advantage, however, is the rapidity with which results are achieved. Thus, results were available from the DEAFF test within 24 hours of receipt of the specimens as compared to a mean of 16 days for cell culture. This single rapid assay for the detection of CMV in clinical samples may be performed by any laboratory familiar with cell culture techniques and in our hands is the preferred diagnostic method for CMV.
Splenic replication of hepatitis B virus in the chimpanzee chronic carrier
Authors: Lieberman Harvey M. , Tung William W. , Shafritz David A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractLow levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and serum Dane particles have been commonly observed in chimpanzee chronic HBV carriers. To evaluate the possibility of extrahepatic sites of replication, DNA from various organs of a chimpanzee HBV carrier were evaluated by Southern blot analysis. With cloned, repurified HBV DNA of 3.2 kilobases (Kb) as a hybridization probe under stringent conditions, analysis of liver DNA revealed a diffuse hybridization pattern below 3.2 Kb and hll‐length double‐stranded HBV genomes at 3.2 and 1.8 Kb, the latter representing the supercoiled (CCC) form found in the nucleus. No HBV DNA was found in pancreas, muscle, renal, or adrenal gland. Analysis of splenic DNA revealed diffuse hybridization below 3.2 Kb within the cytoplasmic subcellular fraction, and full‐length HBV genomic forms in the nuclear fraction of splenic tissue. Use of (−) and (+) strand‐specific HBV DNA and RNA probes demonstrated asymmetric viral replication within the spleen cytoplasm as previously demonstrated in liver. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from chimpanzee spleen and liver revealed HBV RNA sequences in both of these tissues, suggesting active viral gene expression and/or replication in chimpanzee spleen as well as in liver. Elucidation of the splenic cell type supporting viral propagation may serve as a basis for development of a tissue culture system to study molecular events of HBV replication.
Age‐ and sex‐related study of hepatitis B virus chronic carrier state in infants from an endemic area (Senegal)
Authors: Coursaget P. , Yvonnet B. , Chotard J. , Vincelot P. , Sarr M. , Diouf C. , Chiron J. P. , Diop‐Mar I. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis report concerns hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections observed in 155 infants from Senegal. studied with a view to determining the factors involved in development of the chronic carrier state. A chronic carrier state was observed in 50.3% of the infants.This study confirms that the risk of chronic carriage is linked to age. This risk declines very rapidly with age, falling from 82% in infants under 6 months old, to 15% in children between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Spontaneous elimination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is uncommon in HBsAg carriers during childhood.The difference observed in chronic carriage between males and females is due to a difference in susceptibility of the two sexes to the development of the chronic carrier state: HBV infections (before 2 years of age) lead to a chronic carriage in 77% of males as against 50% of females.These conclusions are important in view of the immunisation programs being carried out against hepatitis B virus in endemic areas. For a maximum efficacy, vaccination must be carried out at birth, or shortly afterwards.
Spontaneous and induced interferon production by peripheral blood leucocytes from control population and patients with herpes genitalis
Authors: Lannello D. , Taylor M. W. , Fife K. H. , Chen L. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe spontaneous and PHA induced levels of interferon were measured in peripheral blood leucocyte cultures of twenty‐eight individuals diagnosed as positive for herpes genitalis, and in a group of control subjects. As reported by Cunningham and Merigan [1983] for herpes labialis, leucocytes from individuals with herpes genitalis produced low levels of interferon spontaneously; however, similar results were found for individuals within the control population. No statistically significant difference could be found for PHA induced interferon levels, antigen induced interferon levels, or helper/suppressor cell ratios between the herpes genitalis population and control population. Our results indicate that interferon does not play a major role in the latency or recurrence of herpes genitalis.
Virus‐specific serum IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies in cytomegalovirus mononucleosis patients as determined by immunoblotting technique
Authors: Porath Avi , Hanuka Negba , Keynan Arie , Sarov Israel 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe immune response to individual human cytomegalovirus (CMV) structural polypeptides was studied in paired sera from 15 adult CMV mononucleosis (CMVMN) patients and healthy controls by immunoblotting technique (IB). IgM and IgG antibodies to at least 11 structural polypeptides with molecular weights of 28K, 49K. 55K, 57K. &‐7OK, 82K, 87K, IIOK, 150K. 205K, and 235K were detected in the patients sera in the serum sample obtained in the acute phase of the disease. IgA antibodies to polypeptides with molecular weights of 66‐70K. 82K. 11OK, and 150K were also detected in these sera. In healthy seropositive adults, IgG antibodies with the same molecular weight polypeptides, excluding the 205K and 235K polypeptides, were detected as in convalescent CMV‐MN patients. A prominent reactivity of IgM and IgA antibodies to the 66‐70K and ISOK polypeptides was noted in the acute sera from all the CMV‐MN patients examined, but not in a number of late convalescent sera. The potential implications of these findings in the development of specific serological tests are discussed.
Antibody to human immunodeficiency virus correlates with decreased T helper lymphocytes in asymptomatic individuals
Authors: Weiser Barbara , Burger Harold , Steimer Kathelyn , Lifson Jeffrey , Engleman Edgar , Grimson Roger , Robinson William S. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTo examine the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity and T lymphocyte subsets in a clinically well population, we assayed HIV antibody and analyzed T lymphocyte subsets in 30 people at increased risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who were clinically well. Seventy‐six percent of the HIV‐seropositive individuals had abnormally low numbers of T helper lymphocytes, and HIV seropositivity was strongly correlated with an abnormally low number of T helper cells (p<0.00002). Among these clinically well subjects at increased risk for AIDS, HIV‐sero‐positive individuals had a significant decrease in mean T helper lymphocytes and mean T helper: T suppressor ratios as compared to those who were seronegative (483 cells/mm3 vs 915 cells/mm3, p<0.002: and 0.80 vs 1.7. p<0.002. respectively). Because of the strong correlation of HIV seropositivity and abnormally low numbers of T helper lymphocytes in this asymptomatic population, these findings suggest that asymptomatic seropositive individuals should be followed closely for development of AIDS‐related disease and should be considered for future antiviral therapy when it becomes available.
Production and characterisation of a human monoclonal antibody to cytomegalovirus and its use in an early nuclear fluorescence assay
Authors: Sutherland S. , Crawford D. H. , Wilson S. A. , Morgan B. , Azim T. , Huehns E. R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA human monoclonal antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was produced by transforming peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with recent CMV infection. It is directed against a late antigen located in the nucleus of CMV infected fibroblasts at 24‐72 hours post infection and immuneprecipitates 65K and 48K proteins from 35S‐labelled CMV infected cells. Results of its use in an early nuclear fluorescence assay for rapid diagnosis are presented.
Cloning and characterisation of a delta virus cDNA Sequence derived from a human source
Authors: Saldanha J. A. , Thomas H. C. , Monjardino J. P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe report the extraction of delta virus RNA from the serum of a delta‐virus‐infected patient and the subsequent cloning and analysis of a 380‐nucleotide‐long cDNA (D380). The nucleotide sequence of D380 shows overall differences of approximately 20% when compared with previously published sequences and docs not include the viroid consensus sequence previously reported (Wang et al: Nature 323:508‐514, 1986). A potentially coding open reading frame extending over the whole length of the D.380 has been identified. Our results demonstrate the existence of genetic heterogeneity amongst different delta virus isolates.