Prevalence of cytomegalovirus antibodies in Brazilian and Japanese populations in the north-east of Brazil

Clinical entity of cytomegalovirus disease in patients with malignant lymphoma on bendamustine therapy: a single-institution experience

We investigated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in patients with B-cell lymphoma treated with a bendamustine-containing regimen. The incidence of CMV disease was analyzed after starting treatment with 139 regimens in 126 patients. Clinically significant CMV disease was observed in seven patients. The median duration between bendamustine initiation and the diagnosis of CMV disease was 69 d (range, 40-233), and the median of cycles completed at onset was 2 (range, 1-6). Furthermore, the incidence of CMV disease was significantly higher in the elderly patients than that in the younger patients. The target organs of CMV disease were the liver, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and retinas. Antiviral therapy was administered to all patients. However, the recurrence of CMV disease was observed in two patients. This study provides information that could contribute to clinicians' decision-making on lymphoma therapy using bendamustine.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus and its coinfection with Epstein-Barr virus in adult residents from Manaus: a population-based study

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus, associated factors, and Epstein-Barr virus coinfection among adult residents of Manaus.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional study design, we collected blood samples from 136 individuals in a household survey in 2016. Prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus seroprevalences were 67.6% (95% CI: 9.7-75.6%) and 97.8% (95% CI: 95.3-100.0%), respectively. Coinfection was observed in 66.2% (95% CI: 58.1-74.2%) of participants. Bivariate analysis showed no statistical association.

CONCLUSIONS

Seroprevalences were high among participants and approximately 7 out of 10 individuals had cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus coinfection.

Shorter halving time of BCR-ABL1 transcripts is a novel predictor for achievement of molecular responses in newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia treated with dasatinib: Results of the D-first study of Kanto CML study group

To investigate the factors that affect molecular responses on dasatinib treatment in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP), we performed a clinical trial named the "D-First study." Fifty-two patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP were enrolled in this study and received 100 mg dasatinib once daily. A deep molecular response (DMR) was defined as <50 copies/μg RNA of BCR-ABL1 transcript value corrected by GAPDH, which ensures <0.01% of BCR-ABL1 transcript value according to International Scale (BCR-ABL1(IS)). The halving time for BCR-ABL1 transcripts was calculated using transcript levels before dasatinib treatment, transcript levels after 3 months of treatment, and the treatment time between these two points. In terms of molecular response, 38 of 51 (75%) patients reached major molecular response (MMR) by 12 months, and the rate of DMR by 18 months was 59% (30/51). While both BCR-ABL1 transcript levels before treatment and a shorter halving time of BCR-ABL1 transcripts (≤14 days) were significant factors affecting achievement of MMR by 12 months, the Sokal score at diagnosis was not associated with MMR. Importantly, the halving time was the only factor that predicted achievement of DMR by 18 months. We showed that patients with CML-CP treated with dasatinib can be stratified according to the early treatment response as determined by the halving time of BCR-ABL1 transcripts. These data emphasize the significance of the early response from dasatinib treatment in achieving a DMR. (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01464411).

The prevalence of human cytomegalovirus DNA in gliomas of Brazilian patients

Members of the Herpesviridae family have been implicated in a number of tumours in humans. At least 75% of the human population has had contact with cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In this work, we screened 75 Brazilian glioma biopsies for the presence of HCMV DNA sequences. HCMV DNA was detected in 36% (27/75) of the biopsies. It is possible that HCMV could be a co-factor in the evolution of brain tumours.

Cross-reaction between tyrosinase peptides and cytomegalovirus antigen by T cells from patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

AIM

To determine whether T lymphocytes of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease cross-react with peptides of melanocytes and with exogenous antigens.

METHODS

Cross-reactivity with melanocyte peptides, tyrosinase (tyrosinase(450-462): SYLQDSDPDSFQD) and the mimic virus peptide, i.e., cytomegalovirus envelope glycoprotein H (CMV-egH(290-302): SYLKDSDFLDAAL) was examined by a lymphocyte proliferation assay or cytokine production. The seroprevalence of various viruses was examined by a complement fixation test. To examine if the virus infections in VKH patients were latent, we measured genomic DNA of the virus using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULT

Some of the T cells established from VKH recognized melanocyte peptides including the tyrosinase peptide as well as the CMV-egH(290-302) peptide, which had a high amino acid homology to the tyrosinase peptide. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) peptide-specific T cells showed a significant proliferation not only to CMV-egH(290-302) but also to tyrosinase(450-462). The seroprevalence of CMV was significantly higher in VKH patients. In addition, all tested samples of VKH patients were negative for CMV-DNA.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that CMV infection may stimulate the production of T cells that cross-react with tyrosinase by a mechanism of molecular mimicry. These events may be responsible for the onset of VKH disease.

In vitro activity evaluation of Parkia pendula seed lectin against human cytomegalovirus and herpes virus 6

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in vitro infectivity was inhibited by Parkia pendula seed lectin (PpeL) in contrast to human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) which was not affected. The antiviral activity was detected for HCMV in human embryo lung (HEL) cells using a microtechnique in culture plates. The assay showed a reduction of cellular infectivity from approximately 95%, at a concentration of 150microg/mL with minimal cytotoxicity (25%). Also, a reduction of 75% was observed in HEL cells at a concentration of 75microg/mL without toxic effect. The reduction on infectivity was observed even after virus pre-adsorption to cells suggesting that this action should occur after virus penetration, in the intracellular replication phase. MT4 lymphocytes and cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) were used to evaluate the lectin effect on HHV-6 following the same technique. Lectin concentrations with few or no toxic effects on lymphocytes did not show inhibitory action of HHV-6 cytopathic effect. The results obtained with PpeL demonstrate that it may have an impact in the design of pharmacological strategies to infection of cytomegalovirus.

Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 6 infection in Brazilian and Japanese populations in the north-east of Brazil

The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection was examined for 434 Brazilians and 250 Japanese immigrants living in Recife and its vicinity, in the North-East of Brazil. A total of 684 sera from the healthy individuals were screened for IgG antibodies to HHV-6 by anticomplement immunofluorescence (ACIF) test. The seropositivity rate to HHV-6 showed little difference between the two groups: namely, it was 76.5% for Brazilians and 77.2% for Japanese immigrants. The seropositivity rate was constantly higher in females than in males. The high prevalence of anti-HHV-6 antibodies among children indicates that HHV-6 infection occurs very early in life.