bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of HBsAg subtypes in Western Siberian part of Russia
Authors: Netesova I.G. , Swenson P.D. , Osipova L.P. , Gubina M.A. , Posukh O.L. , Netesov S.V. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA set of monoclonal antibodies with specificity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was used for subtyping this antigen in sera from indigenous natives, blood donors, and drug users in Western Siberia with a modified commercial enzyme immunoassay kit for HBsAg detection. Three subtypes of HBsAg in a ratio of 36 (78%) ayw2:8 ayw3varB (18%):2 (4%) adw2 were found in 46 (100%) HBsAg‐positive sera of different aboriginal populations of Western Siberia: the Tundra Nenets, Northern Khanty, Southern Altaians, and Kazakhs. Four subtypes of HBsAg in a ratio of 81 (57%) ayw2:58 (15 ayw3varA and 43 ayw3varB; 44%):2 (1%) adw2 were detected in 141 (100%) samples of blood donors from ten cities of Western Siberia. Three subtypes of HBsAg in a ratio of 34 ayw3:(both variants, 33 ayw3varA and 1 ayw3varB; 97.1%):1 (2.9%) ayw2 were found in blood of 35 injection drug users in Novosibirsk. J. Med. Virol. 71:183–187, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Soluble CD14 levels are increased and inversely correlated with the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Steyaert Sophia , Vanlandschoot Peter , Van Vlierberghe Hans , Diepolder Helmut , Leroux‐Roels Geert 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBecause it was observed recently that yeast‐derived recombinant HBsAg interacts in a lipopolysaccharide binding protein‐dependent manner with CD14 expressed on human monocytes, we investigated whether HBsAg influences the serum levels of sCD14, lipopolysaccharide binding protein and C‐reactive protein in hepatitis B patients. Samples from acute and chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients were tested. All analytes were measured using commercial assays. HBsAg was quantified using an NIBSC titrated standard. sCD14 levels were higher in chronic hepatitis B and C patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.0006 and P < 0.0001, respectively). In chronic hepatitis B patients an inverse correlation was found between sCD14 and HBsAg (P = 0.0309). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein and C‐reactive protein levels were higher in acute hepatitis B patients than in control subjects (P = 0.0217 and P = 0.0034, respectively). In chronic hepatitis B and C, sCD14 and C‐reactive protein levels were higher in cirrhotic than in non‐cirrhotic patients (P = 0.0072 and P = 0.0223, respectively). J. Med. Virol. 71:188–194, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization and evolution of NS5A quasispecies of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b in patients with different stages of liver disease
Authors: Franco Sandra , Giménez‐Barcons Mireia , Puig‐Basagoiti Francesc , Furcic Ivana , Sánchez‐Tapias José‐María , Rodés Juan , Sáiz Juan‐Carlos 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe quasispecies nature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is thought to play a central role in modulating viral functions. Recent work has linked NS5A protein with viral replication, resistance to interferon (IFN), and control of cellular growth, probably through the interaction of its protein kinase R (double stranded RNA‐activated protein kinase, PKR) binding domain (PKR‐bd) with cellular PKR, but knowledge of how PKR‐bd viral population evolves during disease progression is limited. Since we have previously described an association between amino acid composition of the PKR‐bd and the presence of HCC, in this report we further investigated the dynamic behavior of viral population parameters by sequencing an average of 20 clones per sample in 27 samples from 19 untreated patients with different degrees of liver disease, 8 of whom were followed over time. Viral population parameters varied widely from patient to patient, but no differences were observed in the complexity, diversity, types of nucleotide changes, or evolutionary pattern of the quasispecies according to the stage of liver disease. In five samples, we detected “quasispecies‐tails”; that is, clones whose minimum genetic distance to the remaining clones of their own quasispecies were higher than the maximum genetic distance found between any other two clones of the same sample. In summary, independent of the degree of liver disease, or the mutations detected within the consensus sequence of the PKR‐bd, the NS5A of HCV presents a flexible and variable quasispecies structure that remains largely stable during the natural course of an HCV infection, highlighting the central role of NS5A protein in viral life cycle. J. Med. Virol. 71:195–204, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Loss of hepatitis C virus RNA after parturition in female patients with chronic HCV infection
Authors: Hattori Yuko , Orito Etsuro , Ohno Tomoyoshi , Sugauchi Fuminaka , Suzuki Seiji , Sugiura Mayumi , Suzumori Kaoru , Hattori Kohei , Ueda Ryuzo , Mizokami Masashi 
Published: August 2003

AbstractIt is unclear whether pregnancy has any influence on chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pregnancy and parturition with HCV viremia levels and the natural resolution of HCV RNA. Twenty‐two pregnant patients and 120 nonpregnant control female patients, both positive for anti‐HCV and HCV RNA, were studied. The HCV core protein levels were quantified by enzyme immunoassay, and HCV RNA was detected by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Of the pregnant group, two females whose HCV RNA was negative continuously for more than 6 months lost HCV RNA permanently after parturition, and one female whose level of HCV core protein was intermittently under the limit of detection level lost HCV RNA intermittently. In the control group, only one female lost HCV RNA persistently, and one lost HCV RNA intermittently after she developed liver cirrhosis. At 3 months after parturition, the HCV core protein level was <15 fmol/L in all patients who lost HCV RNA, while the HCV core protein level was ≥15 fmol/L in 81.3% of the patients who persistently had HCV RNA (P = 0.03). Significantly more pregnant patients lost HCV RNA than did nonpregnant controls. These findings suggest that pregnancy and parturition appear to influence the clinical course of HCV infection. J. Med. Virol. 71:205–211, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polymorphisms in tumour necrosis factor‐α, transforming growth factor‐β, interleukin‐10, interleukin‐6, interferon‐γ, and outcome of hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Barrett S. , Collins M. , Kenny C. , Ryan E. , Keane C.O. , Crowe J. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractCytokines play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. In hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), the production of inappropriate cytokine levels appears to contribute to viral persistence and to affect response to therapy. Cytokine genes are polymorphic at specific sites, and certain mutations located within coding/regulatory regions have been shown to affect the overall expression and secretion of cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of genotypes associated with polymorphisms of TNF‐α, TGF‐β, IL‐10, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ and to determine their association with the outcome of HCV infection. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction sequence‐specific primers on genomic DNA isolated from 158 individuals. Of these, 66 had spontaneously recovered from infection (persistently HCV RNA negative), while 92 had persistent infection (persistently HCV RNA positive). All patients were genotyped as high or low producers of TNF‐α and IL‐6 and high, intermediate, or low producers of TGF‐β, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ based on single nucleotide substitutions. A significant proportion of patients with viral clearance were genotyped with a low IL‐6 production profile, whereas those with persistent infection were genotyped with a high production profile (P = 0.02). No associations were observed between polymorphisms of TNF‐α, IL‐10, or IFN‐γ and viral clearance or persistent infection. Furthermore, there were no associations between cytokine genotypes and severity of disease. Inheritance of some genotypes associated with polymorphisms of cytokine genes, such as IL‐6, may be host genetic factors associated with outcome of HCV in a well‐defined ethnically homogeneous cohort. J. Med. Virol. 71:212–218, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High rate of hepatitis C virus infection and predominance of genotype 4 among elderly inhabitants of a remote village of the rain forest of South Cameroon
Authors: Njouom Richard , Pasquier Christophe , Ayouba Ahidjo , Gessain Antoine , Froment Alain , Mfoupouendoun Jermie , Pouillot Regis , Dubois Martine , Sandres‐Sauné Karine , Thonnon Jocelyn , Izopet Jacques , Nerrienet Eric 
Published: August 2003

AbstractTo determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and genotype distribution in a rural isolated area of Central Africa, plasma of 409 Bantous (mean age, 32 years; range, 2–78 years) living in a remote village of the rain forest of Southern Cameroon was screened for anti‐HCV antibodies. HCV seropositive samples were also subjected to qualitative detection of viral RNA. HCV antibodies were detected in 70 (17.1%) individuals, 48 (68.8%) of whom had detectable viremia. The seroprevalence did not differ by gender (P = 0.37), but increased significantly with age (P < 0.05), with a strong increase in the oldest age groups. Indeed, nearly one‐half (48%) of the adults >50 years old were HCV seropositive. The characterization of the viral genotypes indicated that most of the HCV strains were of genotype 4 (76%), while genotype 2 (16%), and 1 (8%) were marginally represented. The results suggest a cohort effect with an old, possibly iatrogenic, group exposure rather than a continuous exposure. A more in‐depth population‐based epidemiological study is needed to address this issue further. J. Med. Virol. 71:219–225, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genotyping of GB virus C by restriction pattern analysis of the 5′ untranslated region
Authors: Schleicher Sabine B. , Flehmig Bertram F. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractGB virus C (GBV‐C) is a virus that has been proposed as a member of the Flaviviridae family, distantly related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is able to infect humans parenterally and perinatally, although its true pathogenicity remains unknown. The 5′ terminal region of GBV‐C is the most highly conserved region of the virus genome. Comparison of 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) sequences from GBV‐C infected individuals shows that variation is limited to particular sites that are often covariant and associated with different virus genotypes. Extensive sequence analysis of the GBV‐C genome provides evidence for the existence of at least five major genotypes, some of which can be further divided into subtypes. For genotyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), it is essential to identify genomic positions that not only reflect genotype differences, but that also harbor restriction sites that allow recognition of these differences. Restriction site analysis of type‐specific sequence motifs predicted that endonucleases BsmFI, HaeII, HinfI, and ScrFI could be used for the identification all known genotypes (types 1–5) with 99.6% accuracy. The method was applied to serum samples from 46 chronic GBV‐C carriers of heterogeneous geographical and ethnic origin, comparing observed cleavage patterns of GBV‐C variants amplified by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of the 5′ UTR with the RFLP predicted from sequences deposited in GenBank database. cDNA sequencing and subsequent alignment of the 46 GBV‐C isolates confirmed RFLP profiles predicted theoretically. The observed geographical distribution of genotypes is also in agreement with previous reports. This method may be useful for rapid and reliable characterization of GBV‐C isolates when either epidemiological or transmission studies are carried out. J. Med. Virol. 71:226–232, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute inflammatory response and remodeling of airway epithelium after subspecies B1 human adenovirus infection of the mouse lower respiratory tract
Authors: Kajon Adriana E. , Gigliotti Andrew P. , Harrod Kevin S. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractDespite the well‐recognized role of adenoviruses of species B in the etiology of severe respiratory disease, the lack of an experimental in vivo model system has limited the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of species B adenovirus‐induced pneumonia. Intratracheal instillation of 5 × 108 plaque‐forming units (pfu) of adenoviruses 3p and 7h resulted in a robust inflammatory response in the lungs of infected mice. A marked infiltration of neutrophils into the lung air spaces was observed at 1 and 2 days postinfection (dpi), with a concomitant increase in the levels of neutrophil chemokines MIP‐2 and KC. The overall histological severity scores were significantly higher for Ad3p‐infected mice at 2 dpi, but similar between the two viruses at other time points. Remodeling of the airway epithelia and mucous cell metaplasia were noted in the proximal airways of infected mice, indicating marked epithelial differentiation and/or injury. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐β (IL‐1β), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ• •), and interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) were induced by viral infection. Expression of the early viral immunomodulatory genes E3‐15.3K and E3gp19K mRNA was readily detectable in the lungs of infected mice by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) at 1 and 2 dpi, coinciding with the peak levels of TNF‐α. While the detection of gp19K mRNA declined thereafter, 15.3K mRNA was detectable up to 6 dpi. Our results indicate that human Ad3 and Ad7 cause marked pulmonary pathology, inducing similar host responses in the respiratory tract, thus validating the use of the mouse model for the study of early virus‐host interactions during lung infection by adenoviruses of subspecies B1. J. Med. Virol. 71:233–244, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Persistent gastroenteritis in children infected with astrovirus: Association with serotype‐3 strains
Authors: Caballero Santiago , Guix Susana , El‐Senousy Waled Morsy , Calicó Ignasi , Pintó Rosa M. , Bosch Albert 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe relationship between cases of persistent diarrhoea and the levels and type of human astrovirus was investigated. The potential correlation between human astrovirus excretion levels and the occurrence of protracted gastroenteritis was elucidated after quantifying astroviruses in faecal samples by a competitive RT‐PCR. This assay was developed employing an internal RNA standard constructed for this purpose and showed a threshold of positivity of 3.4 × 104 genomes per gram of faeces. By this procedure, the levels of astrovirus, belonging to serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8, in faecal samples could be ascertained to range from 3.4 × 108 to 1 × 1013 per gram of faeces. The mean viral titre in the serotype 3‐containing faeces was higher than in any of the other serotype‐containing samples. In children with no background disease, persistent gastroenteritis cases were detected in 8.5% of the astrovirus infections, and 37.5% of those were associated with astrovirus type 3 infection. In addition, 42.9% of astrovirus 3 isolates were implicated with persistent cases, some of them lasting for 3 months. Other type 3 isolates, detected in the faeces in very large numbers, caused severe gastroenteritis. J. Med. Virol. 71:245–250, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flow cytometric analysis of cytomegalovirus‐specific cell‐mediated immunity in the congenital infection
Authors: Hayashi Naomi , Kimura Hiroshi , Morishima Tsuneo , Tanaka Naoko , Tsurumi Tatsuya , Kuzushima Kiyotaka 
Published: August 2003

AbstractFlow cytometric analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was undertaken in seven patients with congenital CMV infection, six healthy infants who had acquired infection, and six CMV‐seropositive adults. Intracellular cytokine assays showed that 0.03–2.23% of CD4+ T cells in the healthy infants and adults produced interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in response to CMV antigens. In contrast, such CD4+ T cells were almost undetectable in patients with congenital CMV infection who were younger than 2 years of age. Tetrameric major histocompatibility complex/peptide complex analysis demonstrated HLA*A2402‐restricted phosphoprotein 65‐specific CD8+ T cells to be present in most healthy infants and adults tested, but almost absent in the patients. Interestingly, CMV‐specific CD4+ T‐cell responses were observed in two patients with congenital infection beyond the age of 5 years. The present study points to impairment of CMV‐specific cellular immunity in patients in single‐cell levels with congenital CMV infection during the infant period and possible restoration in later childhood. J. Med. Virol. 71:251–258, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation between increased platelet‐associated IgG and thrombocytopenia in secondary dengue virus infections
Authors: Oishi Kazunori , Inoue Shingo , Cinco Maria T.D.D. , Dimaano Efren M. , Alera Maria T.P. , Alfon Jhoe A.R. , Abanes Ferdinand , Cruz Deu J.M. , Matias Ronald R. , Matsuura Hiromi , Hasebe Futoshi , Tanimura Susumu , Kumatori Atsushi , Morita Kouichi , Natividad Filipinas F. , Nagatake Tsuyoshi 
Published: August 2003

AbstractAlthough the public health impact of dengue is increasing rapidly, the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in this disease remains unknown. To elucidate this mechanism, the relationship between platelet‐associated IgG (PAIgG) and platelet count in 53 patients in the acute phase of secondary dengue virus infection was investigated in a prospective‐hospital‐based study. A significant inverse correlation between the two parameters was found in these patients, while no correlation was observed in healthy volunteers. The low baseline platelet counts during the acute phase in 12 patients with secondary dengue virus infection significantly increased during the convalescent phase, while the increased PAIgG levels during the acute phase in these patients significantly decreased during the convalescent phase. Anti‐platelet IgG autoantibody was detected rarely in the plasma of 53 patients with secondary dengue infection. The involvement of anti‐dengue virus IgG was also shown in platelets from all of 8 patients in the acute phase of secondary dengue virus infection. These findings suggest that PAIgG formation involving anti‐dengue virus IgG plays a pivotal role in the induction of transient thrombocytopenia during the acute phase of secondary dengue virus infection. J. Med. Virol. 71:259–264, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High prevalence of HPV 16 in South African women with cancer of the cervix and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Kay Patti , Soeters Robbert , Nevin James , Denny Lynette , Dehaeck Catherine M.C. , Williamson Anna‐Lise 
Published: August 2003

AbstractDespite the high prevalence of cervical cancer and cervical neoplasias in South Africa, few studies have been performed in this region to establish which human papillomavirus (HPV) types are associated with the development of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions and cervical cancer. To investigate these prevalence rates, punch biopsies were obtained from 56 women with cervical cancer and 141 women with histologically diagnosed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3 lesions. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using consensus degenerate PCR primers was performed for the detection of HPV DNA and HPV typing was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Forty‐seven (94%) of the cervical cancer and 114 (88%) of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 biopsies were positive for HPV DNA. The prevalence rates of the HPV types detected in the cervical cancer biopsies were HPV 16 (82%), HPV 18, (10%), HPV 33 (10%), HPV 31 (2%), HPV 58 (2%), HPV 35 (2%), and HPV 59 (2%). The cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions contained HPV 16 (56.6%), HPV 33 (14%), HPV 31 (10.9%), HPV X (7%), HPV 52 (3.9), HPV 58 (3.1%), HPV 35 (2.3%), HPV 18 (1.6%), HPV 11 (0.8%). Five of the nine fragments that were not typed by the RFLP, designated HPV‐X, were sequenced to give HPV6 (1/5), HPV 26 (2/5), HPV 68 (1/5), and candHPV 87 (1/5). HPV 58 was detected in one cervical cancer biopsy and four biopsies from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 lesions and was shown to be a previously described variant [Williamson and Rybicki (1991) J. Med. Virol. 33:165–171]. In addition, a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 lesion was shown to harbour HPV type HAN2294 (cand HPV 87). The results of this study indicate that cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 are largely associated with HPV 16 infection in this group of South African women and, therefore, an effective HPV 16 based vaccine should prevent the development of cervical cancer in a large proportion of women from this region of South Africa. J. Med. Virol. 71:265–273, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serotype‐specific mucosal immune response and subsequent poliovirus replication in vaccinated children
Authors: Samoilovich Elena , Roivainen Merja , Titov L.P. , Hovi Tapani 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA total of 32 unimmunized children (median age 5 months) living in an orphanage in Minsk, Belarus, were vaccinated with three doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) with a 60‐day interval between the doses. Blood samples were drawn before the immunizations and 45–50 days after each vaccine dose. Excretion of the vaccine viruses was followed by examining fecal specimens collected weekly after each vaccine dose. All children seroconverted by the second dose of OPV at the latest to all three serotypes of poliovirus but differences were seen regarding the intestinal responses. The strongest responses in both neutralizing antibodies and virus‐binding IgA in fecal suspensions were seen toward poliovirus Type 2. Consistent with this, relatively little poliovirus Type 2 excretion was seen after the second and third doses of OPV as compared to that of poliovirus Type 1 or Type 3. The delayed development of functional intestinal immunity against the latter serotypes was associated with relatively weaker intestinal antibody responses compared to poliovirus Type 2. In the case of poliovirus Type 3, about 10% of children were still excreting the vaccine virus 9 weeks after administering the third dose. These results are consistent with epidemiological observations of the serotype‐specific efficacy of OPV immunizations. The proportion of specimens showing nonpolio enteric viruses gradually increased through the 6‐month study period. This may reflect the possibility that after the first dose of OPV, intensive replication of the vaccine viruses may out compete the nonpolio viruses in the intestines of the vaccinees or, alternatively, mask nonpolio viruses during the cell culture isolation procedure. J. Med. Virol. 71:274–280, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.