Fluorescent nanoparticles packaged with antibodies inside virus-based liposomes can identify EGFR proteins within brain tumor cells.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus infection is characterised by enhanced oxidative stress, which can be measured quantitatively by plasma oxysterol concentration. These molecules may affect lipid metabolism through the activation of Liver X Receptors. Hepatitis C virus exploits host lipid metabolism to facilitate its replication and diffusion. In our study we ...

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles that remain in the blood of patients are frequently ignored as targets for AIDS treatment. We therefore investigated the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) as a means of inactivating cell-free HIV in vitro. Virus particles including HIV-1(IIIB), resistant HIV-1 variants, ...

The A(H5N1) influenza remains a disease of birds with a significant species barrier: in the presence of some tens million cases of infection in poultry--with a wide geographical spread--, only a few hundreds cases have occurred in humans. To date, human cases have been reported in 15 countries--mainly in Asia--and ...

Our previous studies demonstrated that hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, display distinct reactivity to different cell surface molecules. In this study, we characterized the interaction of E1 and E2 with apolipoproteins in facilitating virus entry. The results suggested a higher neutralization of VSV/HCV E1-G pseudotype infectivity ...

In the present study, a total of 158 fecal samples were collected from diarrheal dogs younger than 1 year old in pet clinic in China. 20 specimens (20/158, 13%) were positive for Torque teno canis virus DNA using detection PCR. One representative positive isolate designated LDL was randomly selected, cloned ...

The focal distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV; Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) appears to depend mainly on cofeeding transmission between infected Ixodes ricinus L. nymphs and uninfected larvae. To better understand the role of cofeeding ticks in the transmission of TBEV, we investigated tick infestation of rodents and the influence of microclimate ...

The clinical and public health importance of influenza and other respiratory viruses has accelerated the development of highly sensitive molecular diagnostics, but data are limited regarding preanalytical stages of diagnostic testing. We evaluated CyMol, an alcohol-based transport medium, for its ability to maintain specimen integrity for up to 21 days ...

We describe a previously symptom-free 13-year-old boy with dominant partial interferon-γ receptor-1 deficiency and unusual varicella-zoster virus reactivation. This case supports the unsettled notion that some interferon-γ R-deficient patients are at enhanced risk for viral disease.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) occurs in from 2% to 3% of the population and may have a risk of malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This risk is not necessarily associated with exposure to tobacco and alcohol. An increased awareness of a possible role of human papilloma virus (HPV) ...

INTRODUCTION Real-time, live-cell imaging techniques and single-particle tracking algorithms can be used to follow individual virus particles as they infect cells. This protocol describes the use of one or more fluorescent markers to perform single-particle virus-tracking experiments.

Chronic herpes simplex virus (CHSV) and chronic varicella zoster virus (CVZV) are defined as atypical mucocutaneous wart-like and/or ulcerative HSV or VZV infections, persisting for at least 1 month. Both are commonly associated with HIV infection and may occasionally present with other types of immunosuppression. CHSV and CVZV occur despite ...

Varicella zoster virus typically causes a benign disease in childhood called varicella (chickenpox) and can reactivate in adults as a dermatomally distributed, painful rash illness known as herpes zoster (HZ). Infection with VZV can however lead to severe complications in immunocompromised patients that can result in hospitalization and, occasionally, death. ...

Varicella zoster virus infection, which causes chickenpox and herpes zoster (HZ), is not uncommon in the general population. Varicella zoster virus can be latent in cranial nerve or dorsal root ganglia, and reactivate several decades later to produce vesicles with post-herpetic neuralgia. HZ myelitis usually occurs in elderly or immunocompromised ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation causes herpes zoster, which is accompanied by an influx of lymphocytes into affected ganglia, but the stimulus for this infiltrate is not known. We report that VZV infection of ganglia leads to increased CXCL10 production in vitro, in an explant ganglion model and in naturally infected ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic alphaherpesvirus. VZV infection of human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) xenografts in immunodeficient mice models the infection of sensory ganglia. We examined DRG infection with recombinant VZV (recombinant Oka [rOka]) and the following gE mutants: gEΔ27-90, gEΔCys, gE-AYRV, and gE-SSTT. gEΔ27-90, which lacks the gE ...

We report on a boy with a sudden onset of unilateral skin lesions following tonsillar infection with fever 2 weeks before. The lesions consisted of erythematous macules with scaling affecting trunk, axillar, as well as inguinal region. CRP, blood differential, serum IgG and IgM antibodies (coxsackievirus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, herpes virus, ...

Viral infections are some of the most frequent complications in patients with hematologic malignancies are viral infections. Infections caused by cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, hepatitis B virus and influenza virus are associated with high morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population. Fortunately, a growing number of antiviral ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an unusual cause of meningoencephalitis in the immunocompetent patient. Most cases of VZV-associated aseptic meningitis or encephalitis are associated with the skin rash of primary varicella, localized herpes zoster, or disseminated zoster. We report a case of VZV meningoencephalitis without a rash occurring in a normal ...

Recent progress in defining the molecular mechanisms of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) entry affords the opportunity to exploit new viral and host targets for therapeutic intervention. Entry inhibitors would limit the expansion of the infected cell reservoir, and would complement the many replication inhibitors now under development. The current model ...

Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpes virus that reactivates from a latent state in human trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia to cause herpes zoster (shingles) which is a painful vesicular dermatomal skin eruption. The major complication of herpes zoster is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) which is a serious condition occurring ...

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) Oka vaccine strain (vOka) differs from the parental strain (pOka) at several amino acid positions, but the mutations responsible for the attenuation of vOka have not been clearly defined. The ORF0 of vOka carries some of the mutations. Although we found that the ORF0 of both ...

The introduction of targeted immunotherapies has greatly improved the therapeutic options of several inflammatory diseases such as psoriatic arthritis. However treatment-related opportunistic infections and viral reactivations may still occur. We describe a case of varicella zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis due to the reactivation of latent VZV infection during a long ...

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Famciclovir is the prodrug of penciclovir, a guanosine analogue that inhibits viruses of the alpha sub-family of the Herpesviridae, as well as hepatitis B virus. It is indicated for management of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus disease and acute herpes zoster, and has been investigated for management ...

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare condition that has been reported from all parts of the world. It is well recognized as a paraneoplastic syndrome in children with neuroblastoma and in adults with small-cell carcinoma of lung and some other cancers. It may also occur in association with various central ...

Exposure to varicella-zoster virus in utero or during the first months of life is the main risk factor for the development of herpes zoster (HZ) in healthy children. We report a case series of 16 infants and toddlers who presented with HZ after early exposure to varicella-zoster virus. Two patients ...

The herpes viruses are responsible for a wide range of diseases in patients following transplant, resulting from direct viral effects and indirect effects, including tumor promotion. Effective treatments and prophylaxis exist for the neurotropic herpes viruses HSV-1, HSV-2, varicella zoster virus, and possibly HHV-6. Antivirals seem to be less effective ...

Chickenpox and shingles (varicella-zoster virus [VZV]) pose a threat to individuals who are immunosuppressed and/or have rheumatoid arthritis or another inflammatory musculoskeletal condition. In this paper we present a literature review of the condition, management and prevention.

We evaluate the recovery of CMI to various herpes viruses by measuring in vitro LPR to specific recall antigens. CMI was evaluated by the in vitro LPR of PBMC to specific purified HSV-1, VZV, CMV, EBV, HHV-6, -7, -8, antigens. Results were expressed as SI. SI > or = 3 ...

The primary varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection results in chickenpox (varicella), which is transmitted via the airborne route. VZV is highly infectious, but in the USA the incidence of varicella has been reduced by 76-87% as a result of the varicella vaccine. The virus establishes latency in the dorsal root ...

Although Bell's palsy is the major cause of acute peripheral facial palsy, its pathogenesis remains unknown. Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus has been implicated as one of the main causes of Bell's palsy, however, studies which investigate the varicella zoster virus reactivation in Bell's palsy patients are mostly Japanese ...

Penetrating keratoplasties due to herpetic corneal scars are more often performed compared to persisting Varicella zoster virus infections, which are quite seldom. Penetrating keratoplasties in herpetic corneas are risk keratoplasties due to the vascularisation and the risk of recurrent virus replication. The prognosis in these corneal transplantations has been improved ...

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a painful vesiculobullous dermatitis which occurs as a result of previously established varicella zoster virus infection. It is a well established fact that Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is a well known marker of human immune deficiency virus infection even in Africans. The aim of this study is ...

Varicella and herpes zoster are due to varicella-zoster virus. Outcome of both infections is generally favourable. The most frequent severe complications are invasive streptococcal and staphylococcal superinfections, especially in children. A nested case-control study conducted within a British cohort showed a statistically significant increase in the risk of severe cutaneous ...

We describe an immunocompetent 45-year-old woman who had four episodes of neurological disease (meningoencephalitis, multifocal vasculopathy, myelitis and inflammatory brain stem disease) produced by varicella zoster virus (VZV) over an 11-month period, all in the absence of rash. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contained anti-VZV IgG antibody, but not VZV DNA ...

While trying to generate a site-directed deletion in the ORF63 latency-associated gene of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) Oka, we constructed a virus with an unexpected rearrangement. The virus has a small deletion in both copies of ORF63 and two copies of a cassette inserted between ORFs 64/65 and 68/69 containing (a) ...

Varicella zoster virus has highly conserved genome 125,000 base pairs. The different molecular genetic methods of analyzing VZV genome are discussed, as well as their results with regards to the virus phylogenesis, geographic distributions, possible recombination and virulence of different VZV strains.

Acute myopericarditis is a major cause of acquired heart disease worldwide in pediatric patients. Various viruses have been reported as the etiology, of which varicella zoster virus was first reported in 1953. However, since nationwide administration of the varicella vaccine, reports of varicella-associated myopericaridits have become sporadic. We report a ...

Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) is more common in patients with malignancies; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this susceptibility are unclear. Using ex vivo interferon-gamma ELISpot assays, we set out to analyse VZV-specific immune responses in a large cohort of patients with malignancies. We observed that ...

OBJECTIVES: We performed a case-control study to determine if participants with herpes zoster had fewer contacts with persons with varicella or zoster, and with young children, to explore the hypothesis that exposure to persons with varicella zoster virus (VZV) results in "immune boosting." METHODS: Participants were patients of the multispecialty ...

The Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alpha-herpesvirus that is the causative agent of chicken pox and shingles. Although an attenuated VZV vaccine (v-Oka) has been widely used in children in the United States, chicken pox outbreaks are still seen, and the shingles vaccine only reduces the risk ...

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genome contains at least 70 genes, and all but six have homologs in herpes simplex virus (HSV). Cosmids and BACs corresponding to the VZV parental Oka and vaccine Oka viruses have been used to "knockout" 34 VZV genes. Seven VZV genes (ORF4, 5, 9, 21, 29, ...

Because varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an exclusively human pathogen, the development of an animal model is necessary to study pathogenesis, latency, and reactivation. The pathological, virological, and immunological features of simian varicella virus (SVV) infection in nonhuman primates are similar to those of VZV infection in humans. Both natural ...

The capacity of varicella zoster virus (VZV) to cause varicella (chickenpox) relies upon multiple steps, beginning with inoculation of the host at mucosal sites with infectious virus in respiratory droplets. Despite the presence of a powerful immune defense system, this virus is able to disseminate from the site of initial ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE) is essential for virus infectivity and binds to a cellular receptor, insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), through its unique amino terminal extracellular domain. Previous work has shown IDE plays an important role in VZV infection and virus cell-to-cell spread, which is the sole route for VZV ...

Reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) from latently infected human ganglia usually produces herpes zoster (shingles), characterized by dermatomal distribution pain and rash. Zoster is often followed by chronic pain (postherpetic neuralgia or PHN) as well as meningitis or meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, isolated cranial nerve palsies that produce ophthalmoplegia or the ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic human alphaherpesvirus and the causative agent of varicella and herpes zoster. VZV reactivation from latency in sensory nerve ganglia is a direct consequence of VZV neurotropism. Investigation of VZV neuropathogenesis by infection of human dorsal root ganglion xenografts in immunocompromised (SCID) mice has provided ...

The molecular epidemiology of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has led to an understanding of virus evolution, spread, and pathogenesis. The availability of over 20 full length genomes has confirmed the existence of at least five virus clades and generated estimates of VZV evolution, with evidence of recombination both past and ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a medically important human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella and zoster. VZV initiates primary infection by inoculation of the respiratory mucosa. In the course of primary infection, VZV establishes a life-long persistence in sensory ganglia; VZV reactivation from latency may result in zoster in healthy and immunocompromised ...

Here we report the case of a 54-year old, immunocompetent German patient with primary varicella whose Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)-specific T-cell responses could be detected early in infection and before the onset of seroconversion. This case demonstrates that the detection of VZV-specific T-cells may under certain circumstances support the diagnosis of ...