herpes
Lack of association of polyomavirus and herpes virus types 6 and 7 in human lymphomas.

Hernandez-Losa J, Fedele CG, Pozo F, Tenorio A, Fernandez V, Castellvi J, Parada C, Ramon y Cajal S.

Department of Pathology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The association of viruses with several human tumors has been studied for almost 100 years, and it remains a very controversial issue. Due to the fact that the presence of polyomaviruses and herpes viruses reportedly are associated with lymphomas, albeit with striking results and differences between the many studies, the authors undertook a study into the presence of viral sequences of polyomavirus (BK virus, JC virus, and especially simian virus 40 [SV40]) in human lymphomas in an attempt to explain this contradictory association. To complete the study, the presence of different virus types from the herpesviriridae family were analyzed, such as herpes virus type 6 (HHV6), HHV7, HHV8, and Epstein-Barr virus, in human lymphomas. METHODS: DNA was isolated from 83 frozen human lymphoma samples, and different polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to find polyomavirus and herpes virus sequences in these samples. To assess the incidence of the presence of sequences in lymphomas, a parallel analysis was made of 53 samples from normal donor spleen lymphocytes. Positive samples were analyzed for polyomavirus sequences by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Polyomavirus sequences were detected in 9 of 83 lymphomas (11%), and SV40 sequences could be confirmed in only 1 lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry for large-T antigen was negative in all samples. Herpesviruses were detected in 53 of 83 lymphomas (63.9%), were detected more frequently in Hodgkin lymphomas (80%) than in non-Hodgkin lymphomas (58.7%), and were detected in > 60% of normal spleen lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The current results did not support a clear association of polyomavirus and HHV6 or HHV7 with lymphomas; HHV6 and HHV7 sequences were detected in a similar percentage of normal samples and lymphomas. The lack of significant differences between normal and malignant lymphocytes and the absence of viral protein expression in the tumor cells did not allow the establishment of a clinical correlation between polyomaviruses or HHVs (HHV6, HHV7, HHV8) and lymphomas. Nevertheless, because viral products can be lost during tumor progression, and because host factors can modulate the oncogenic role of some viruses, the hypothetical role of these viruses cannot be discarded completely. (c) 2004 American Cancer Society.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15593086&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
[Study of serum levels of interlukin-2 and its receptor, interlukin-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with recurrent genital herpes]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhang M, Zhang Y.

Department of Dermatovenerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

OBJECTIVE: To study cellular immunity status and serum levels of adhesion molecules of patients with recurrent genital herpes. METHODS: Serum levels of interlukin-2 and its soluble receptor, interlukin-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA in 34 patients with recurrent genital herpes. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.01). The levels of sIL-2R, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in all variables of patients in relapse phase and remission phase (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are cellular immunity deficiency and high serum levels of adhesion molecules in patients with recurrent genital herpes, and these changes may be related to therecurrence of genital herpes and the development of inflammatory reaction.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15600189&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
A novel class of herpes virus with bivalve hosts.

Davison AJ, Trus BL, Cheng N, Steven AC, Watson MS, Cunningham C, Le Deuff RM, Renault T.

MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK. a.davison vir.gla.ac.uk

Ostreid herpes virus 1 (OsHV-1) is the only member of the Herpesviridae that has an invertebrate host and is associated with sporadic mortality in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and other bivalve species. Cryo-electron microscopy of purified capsids revealed the distinctive T=16 icosahedral structure characteristic of herpes viruses, although the preparations examined lacked pentons. The gross genome organization of OsHV-1 was similar to that of certain mammalian herpes viruses (including herpes simplex virus and human cytomegalovirus), consisting of two invertible unique regions (U(L), 167.8 kbp; U(S), 3.4 kbp) each flanked by inverted repeats (TR(L)/IR(L), 7.6 kbp; TR(S)/IR(S), 9.8 kbp), with an additional unique sequence (X, 1.5 kbp) between IR(L) and IR(S). Of the 124 unique genes predicted from the 207 439 bp genome sequence, 38 were members of 12 families of related genes and encoded products related to helicases, inhibitors of apoptosis, deoxyuridine triphosphatase and RING-finger proteins, in addition to membrane-associated proteins. Eight genes in three of the families appeared to be fragmented. Other genes that did not belong to the families were predicted to encode DNA polymerase, the two subunits of ribonucleotide reductase, a helicase, a primase, the ATPase subunit of terminase, a RecB-like protein, additional RING-like proteins, an ion channel and several other membrane-associated proteins. Sequence comparisons showed that OsHV-1 is at best tenuously related to the two classes of vertebrate herpes viruses (those associated with mammals, birds and reptiles, and those associated with bony fish and amphibians). OsHV-1 thus represents a third major class of the herpes viruses.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15604430&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Genomic variation of the fibropapilloma-associated marine turtle herpes virus across seven geographic areas and three host species.

Greenblatt RJ, Quackenbush SL, Casey RN, Rovnak J, Balazs GH, Work TM, Casey JW, Sutton CA.

C5-142 Veterinary Medical Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 13045, USA.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) of marine turtles is an emerging neoplastic disease associated with infection by a novel turtle herpes virus, fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpes virus (FPTHV). This report presents 23 kb of the genome of an FPTHV infecting a Hawaiian green turtle (Chelonia mydas). By sequence homology, the open reading frames in this contig correspond to herpes simplex virus genes UL23 through UL36. The order, orientation, and homology of these putative genes indicate that FPTHV is a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae. The UL27-, UL30-, and UL34-homologous open reading frames from FPTHVs infecting nine FP-affected marine turtles from seven geographic areas and three turtle species (C. mydas, Caretta caretta, and Lepidochelys olivacea) were compared. A high degree of nucleotide sequence conservation was found among these virus variants. However, geographic variations were also found: the FPTHVs examined here form four groups, corresponding to the Atlantic Ocean, West pacific, mid-Pacific, and east Pacific. Our results indicate that FPTHV was established in marine turtle populations prior to the emergence of FP as it is currently known.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15613340&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Complete genome sequence of cercopithecine herpes virus 2 (SA8) and comparison with other simplexviruses.

Tyler SD, Peters GA, Severini A.

National Microbiology Laboratory, Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, 1015 Arlignton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 3R2.

We have obtained the complete sequence of the herpes virus simian agent 8 (SA8; cercopithecine herpes virus 2) a baboon simplexvirus closely related to the monkey B virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The genome of SA8 is 150,715 bp long, with an overall G/C content of 76%, the highest among the simplexviruses sequenced so far. The sequencing has confirmed that the genomic arrangement of SA8 is similar to that of other simplexviruses: unique long and unique short regions bordered by two sets of inverted repeats. All genes identified in SA8 are homologous and collinear with those of the monkey B virus, including the lack of the RL1 open reading frame, a gene responsible for neurovirulence in human herpes simplex viruses. This latter finding supports the hypothesis that a different pathogenetic mechanism may have developed in human simplexviruses, after their divergence from monkey simplexviruses.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15629785&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Association between human herpes viruses and the severity of periodontitis.

Ling LJ, Ho CC, Wu CY, Chen YT, Hung SL.

Department of Periodontics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Herpesviruses may play roles in the development of periodontal diseases. The present study evaluated the relationships between herpes viruses and the severity of periodontitis. METHODS: Periodontal status in terms of gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss of 20 participants was evaluated. The presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), or Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1) in six subgingival plaques from each participant was examined by nested-polymerase chain reaction techniques. RESULTS: Among the 120 sites examined, the prevalence of HCMV (51.7%) was higher than HSV (30.8%) followed by EBV-1 (4.2%). The prevalence of HSV or HCMV was significantly higher in the subgroups that had lower plaque index (<1). However, the prevalence of HSV was significantly higher in the subgroup that had higher gingival index (> or =2), positive bleeding on probing, deeper probing depth (> or =4 mm), or higher clinical attachment loss (> or =4 mm). Moreover, the prevalence of EBV-1 was significantly higher in the subgroup that had higher probing depth (> or =4 mm). Coinfection of HSV and HCMV was significantly associated with the sites that had higher gingival index (> or =2) or positive bleeding on probing. Coinfection of any two herpes viruses was also associated with higher probing depth (> or =4 mm) or higher clinical attachment loss (> or =4 mm). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that HSV is related to the severity of periodontal diseases in terms of clinical attachment loss. Coinfection of any two herpes viruses may also play roles.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15633324&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
The incidence of herpes simplex virus labialis after cesarean delivery.

Norris MC, Weiss J, Carney M, Leighton BL.

Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA USA.

Epidural and subarachnoid opioids have been associated with the development of oral herpes simplex lesions. Because of this risk, some anesthesiologists avoid neuraxial morphine in parturients with a history of herpes simplex virus labialis. When we began using neuraxial opioids for analgesia after cesarean delivery, we did not see any increased incidence of facial lesions. To confirm this impression, we studied 357 consecutive parturients presenting for elective or emergent cesarean delivery between 1 December 1989 and 27 June 1990. The women received spinal, epidural, or general anesthesia. Two hundred and one women received either spinal or epidural morphine, the remaining 156 parturients received only systemic opioids for postoperative analgesia. An investigator saw each patient daily until discharge. Only 11 patients (3%) developed oral lesions while hospitalized. None of these women had severe lesions. Neuraxial morphine did not increase the risk of labial lesions significantly (3.5% vs. 2.6%). Despite published data to the contrary, we found no correlation between neuraxial morphine and the risk of facial herpes virus lesions in women after cesarean delivery. We offer patients the option of neuraxial morphine for analgesia after cesarean delivery despite any history of oral herpes lesions.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15636934&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine



herpes
Herpes simplex virus type 1 shedding in the oral cavity of seropositive patients.

da Silva LM, Guimaraes AL, Victoria JM, Gomes CC, Gomez RS.

Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the frequency of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) reactivation in the oral cavity of seropositive patients with previous history of recurrent herpes labialis (recrudescent group) compared with those without any history of recrudescent lesions (asymptomatic HSV-1 infection). In addition, the relation between recrudescence and the presence of the virus in the saliva was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen individuals with previous history of herpes labialis (recrudescent group) and 11 HSV-1 seropositive asymptomatic volunteers were included in the study. Swabs were performed periodically in all subjects and the presence of HSV-1 DNA was identified by nested PCR. RESULTS: All the 25 subjects enrolled in the study, revealed at least one positive swab for HSV-1. The frequency of HSV-1 positivity in the group with recrudescent herpes labialis was not statistically different from the other group. Ten subjects of the recrudescent group presented with herpes labialis at least once during the study. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 shedding in the oral cavity occurs independently of herpes labialis recrudescence.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15641961&dopt=Abstract herpes medicine