Both Systemic and Mucosal LCMV Immunization Generate Robust Viral-Specific IgG in Mucosal Secretions, But Elicit Poor LCMV-Specific IgA

Immunoglobulins in secretions play a critical role in protection at mucosal surfaces. We examined the generation of viral-specific IgG and IgA in plasma and mucosal secretions of mice following systemic or mucosal immunization with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a widely used experimental model of viral infection. While there are early differences in humoral responses depending on the route of viral entry, we show that both routes generate comparably robust viral-specific IgG in plasma, vaginal, lung, and nasal secretions of immune mice. In contrast, LCMV elicited poor viral-specific IgA responses. Mice that were infected IN showed elevated viral-specific IgA in nasal and lung washes compared to IP-infected mice; however, LCMV-specific IgG overwhelmingly contributed to the humoral response in all mucosal secretions examined. Thus similarly to HIV-1, and several other mucosally-encountered microbial infections, these data suggest that LCMV infection fails to induce vigorous viral-specific IgA responses

Connatal (fetal) hydrocephalus - an acquired pathology?

We investigated the etiology of hydrocephalus present at birth, i.e. of fetal hydrocephalus. Both inherited and dysraphic major malformations are very rare. Intraventricular hemorrhages and viral infections during pregnancy are among the proposed etiologies; they are supported more by anatomical, physiopathological and experimental findings than by clinical evidence. Cases of fetal intraventricular hemorrhages cited in the literature are anecdotical, and the reports fail to identify maternal or fetal predisposing factors. The role of viruses in the etiology of connatal hydrocephalus has been postulated on the basis of epidemiological considerations in human pathology and of a considerable amount of experimental studies in animals. Investigations were generally focused on aqueduct ependyma, but research should also address other structures involved in the genesis of hydrocephalus (choroid plexus, extraventricular CSF pathways, including arachnoid villi). Furthermore, experimental evidence has emerged concerning a number of toxins and of drugs administered during pregnancy, which are thought to be involved in the genesis of hydrocephalus: once more, the conclusions reached in these experimental trials lend further credence to the human epidemiological data linking pregnancy disturbances with fetal hydrocephalus. Since most of these toxic agents are also thought to induce major malformations, we could assume the degree of their effect to depend on the embryonal stage affected: the earlier the action, the worse the malformatio

Imaging of congenital central nervous system infections.

© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Congenital central nervous system (CNS) infections are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. The recent Zika virus outbreak raised awareness of congenital CNS infections. Imaging can be effective in diagnosing the presence and severity of infection. In this paper we review the clinical presentations and imaging characteristics of several common and less common congenital CNS infections