High prevalence of antibodies against polyomavirus WU, polyomavirus KI, and human bocavirus in German blood donors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>DNA of the polyomaviruses WU (WUPyV) and KI (KIPyV) and of human bocavirus (HBoV) has been detected with varying frequency in respiratory tract samples of children. However, only little is known about the humoral immune response against these viruses. Our aim was to establish virus-specific serological assays and to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against these three viruses in the general population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The capsid proteins VP1 of WUPyV and KIPyV and VP2 of HBoV were cloned into baculovirus vectors and expressed in Sf9 insect cells. IgG antibodies against WUPyV VP1, KIPyV VP1, and HBoV VP2 were determined by immunofluorescence assays in 100 plasma samples of blood donors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median age of the blood donors was 31 years (range 20 - 66 yrs), 52% were male. 89% of the samples were positive for WUPyV IgG (median age 31 yrs, 49.4% male), 67% were positive for KIPyV IgG (median age 32 yrs, 46.3% male), and 76% were positive for HBoV IgG (median age 32 yrs, 51.3% male). For WUPyV and HBoV, there were no significant differences of the seropositivity rates with respect to age groups or gender. For KIPyV, the seropositivity rate increased significantly from 59% in the age group 20 - 29 years to 100% in the age group > 50 years.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>High prevalences of antibodies against WUPyV, KIPyV, and HBoV were found in plasma samples of healthy adults. The results indicate that primary infection with these viruses occurs during childhood or youth. For KIPyV, the seropositivity appears to increase further during adulthood.</p

Seroepidemiology of Human Polyomaviruses

In addition to the previously characterized viruses BK and JC, three new human polyomaviruses (Pys) have been recently identified: KIV, WUV, and Merkel Cell Py (MCV). Using an ELISA employing recombinant VP1 capsid proteins, we have determined the seroprevalence of KIV, WUV, and MCV, along with BKV and JCV, and the monkey viruses SV40 and LPV. Soluble VP1 proteins were used to assess crossreactivity between viruses. We found the seroprevalence (+/− 1%) in healthy adult blood donors (1501) was SV40 (9%), BKV (82%), JCV (39%), LPV (15%), KIV (55%), WUV (69%), MCV strain 350 (25%), and MCV strain 339 (42%). Competition assays detected no sero-crossreactivity between the VP1 proteins of LPV or MCV or between WUV and KIV. There was considerable sero-crossreactivity between SV40 and BKV, and to a lesser extent, between SV40 and JCV VP1 proteins. After correcting for crossreactivity, the SV40 seroprevalence was ∼2%. The seroprevalence in children under 21 years of age (n = 721) for all Pys was similar to that of the adult population, suggesting that primary exposure to these viruses likely occurs in childhood

The Changing Epidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection: The Associated Effects on the Incidence of Ocular Herpes

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with a worldwide distribution has been reported in all human populations, resulting in a clinical spectrum of infections. Although HSV type 2 (HSV-2) is known as the most common cause of genital herpes, an increasing number of cases with genital herpes are caused by HSV-1. The present study aimed to discuss the changes in the epidemiology of HSV-1 infection including the decline in the general incidence of HSV-1 infection in childhood and the increased rate of genital herpes, caused by HSV-1. Moreover, changes in the epidemiology of ocular herpes, i.e., the reduced rate of primary ocular herpes in children and increased incidence of ocular HSV infection in adults, were discussed

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ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with a worldwide distribution has been reported in all human populations, resulting in a clinical spectrum of infections. Although HSV type 2 (HSV-2) is known as the most common cause of genital herpes, an increasing number of cases with genital herpes are caused by HSV-1. The present study aimed to discuss the changes in the epidemiology of HSV-1 infection including the decline in the general incidence of HSV-1 infection in childhood and the increased rate of genital herpes, caused by HSV-1. Moreover, changes in the epidemiology of ocular herpes, i.e., the reduced rate of primary ocular herpes in children and increased incidence of ocular HSV infection in adults, were discussed

DFT assessments of BN, AlN, and GaN decorated carbon cage scaffolds for sensing the thiamazole drug

Sensing drug substances by nanostructures are very important in accordance with the management of targeted drug delivery processes and drug substances detections. Boron nitride (BN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and gallium nitride (GaN) decorated carbon cage (BN-C, AlN-C, and GaN-C) scaffolds were assessed towards sensing the thiamazole (TMZ) drug through the wB97XD/6–31 + G* level of density functional theory (DFT) computations. The singular models were optimized and their combinations to each other were stabilized to obtain the interacting TMZ@Scaffold bimolecular complexes and their corresponding features. The results indicated the existence of non-covalent physical interactions between the substances and their electronic features indicated possibility of sensing function for the investigated scaffolds. Based on the variations of values of adsorption energy and energy gap, the features of recovery time and conductance rate were achieved to predict a sensing function for the models; TMZ@GaN-C was found at the highest suitability in comparison with TMZ@AlN-C and TMZ@BN-C models. The obtained thermochemistry results indicated a spontaneous process for the formation of TMZ@Scaffold complexes. Based on all the obtained results, an order of TMZ@GaN-C > TMZ@AlN-C > TMZ@BN-C was found for describing stability, formation, and electronic features suitability by assigning specific features for each of the singular BN-C, AlN-C, and GaN-C scaffolds towards the TMZ drug. As a consequence, two purposes of detections and adsorptions were approached for the investigated scaffolds to develop sensing functions of BN-C, AlN-C, and GaN-C scaffolds for the TMZ drug

The polyomaviruses WUPyV and KIPyV: a retrospective quantitative analysis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The polyomaviruses WUPyV and KIPyV have been detected in various sample types including feces indicating pathogenicity in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. However, quantitative viral load data from other simultaneously collected sample types are missing. As a consequence, primary replication in the GI system cannot be differentiated from swallowed virus from the respiratory tract.</p> <p>Here we present a retrospective quantitative longitudinal analysis in simultaneously harvested specimens from different organ sites of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This allows the definition of sample types where deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection can be expected and, as a consequence, the identification of their primary replication site.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Viral DNA loads from 37 patients undergoing HSCT were quantified in respiratory tract secretions (RTS), stool and urine samples as well as in leukocytes (n = 449). Leukocyte-associated virus could not be found. WUPyV was found in feces, RTS and urine samples of an infant, while KIPyV was repeatedly detected in RTS and stool samples of 4 adult patients.</p> <p>RTS and stool samples were matched to determine the viral load difference showing a mean difference of 2.3 log copies/ml (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data collected in this study suggest that virus detection in the GI tract results from swallowed virus from the respiratory tract (RT). We conclude that shedding from the RT should be ruled out before viral DNA detection in the feces can be correlated to GI symptoms.</p

Detection of novel polyomaviruses, TSPyV, HPyV6, HPyV7, HPyV9 and MWPyV in feces, urine, blood, respiratory swabs and cerebrospinal fluid

Eight novel human polyomaviruses have been discovered since 2007. Prevalence rates and tissue tropism for the most recent members HPyV 6, 7, 9, TSPyV and MWPyV are largely unknown. We used real-time PCR to determine the presence of HPyV 6, 7, 9, TSPyV and MWPyV in feces (n = 263), urine (n = 189), blood (n = 161), respiratory swabs (n = 1385) and cerebrospinal fluid (n = 171) from both healthy control children and children and adults undergoing diagnostic testing. Whole genome sequencing was able to be performed on 9 MWPyV positive specimens. Novel polyomaviruses were only detected in respiratory swabs and feces, with no detections of HPyV 9 in any sample type. MWPyV was found to be the most prevalent novel polyomavirus, being detected in 18 (1.5%) respiratory specimens from symptomatic patients, 16 (9.8%) respiratory sample from healthy control children, 11 (5.9%) fecal specimens from patient suffering gastrointestinal illness, and in 13 (15.3%) of feces from healthy control children. MWPyV was found only in respiratory and fecal specimens from children, the oldest being 9 years old. HPyV 6, 7, 9 and TSPyV were also detected in respiratory specimens and fecal specimens at low prevalence