Intrathecal synthesis of IgG antibodies to varicella-zoster virus in two cases of acute aseptic meningitis syndrome with no cutaneous lesions

IgG antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were detected by indirect enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) in CSF of two patients with acute aseptic meningitis syndrome (AAMS) not associated with evident cutaneous lesion or recent history of zoster infection. Their characteristic features and serological data are compared with those observed in two patients with AAMS and zoster cutaneous lesions, and in 13 patients with AAMS of unknown or other etiology. According to several indexes applied to assess the origin of the detected antibodies, it is concluded that VZV IgG antibodies are of intrathecal production. The possible etiologic relationship between the neurological syndrome and the detection of VZV antibodies in CSF is discussed. Routine serological procedures are proposed for the diagnosis of CNS acute infections of probable viral etiology that should provide additional data on these rarely described cases.

Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution and HPV type 16 E6 variants in two Spanish population groups with different levels of HPV infection risk

The aim of this study is to determine oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types and HPV type 16 (HPV16) variant distribution in two Spanish population groups, commercial sex workers and imprisoned women (CSW/IPW) and the general population. A multicenter cross-sectional study of 1,889 women from five clinical settings in two Spanish cities was conducted from May to November 2004. Oncogenic HPV infection was tested by an Hybrid Capture II (HC2) test, and positive samples were genotyped by direct sequencing using three different primer sets in L1 (MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+) and E6/E7. HPV16 variants were identified by sequencing the E6, E2, and L1 regions. Four hundred twenty-five samples were positive for the HC2 test, 31.5% from CSW/IPW and 10.7% from the general population. HPV16 was the most frequent type. Distinct profiles of oncogenic HPV type prevalence were observed across the two populations. In order of decreasing frequency, HPV types 16, 31, 58, 66, 56, and 18 were most frequent in CSW/IPW women, and types 16, 31, 52, 68, 51, and 53 were most frequent in the general population. We analyzed HPV16 intratype variants, and a large majority (78.7%) belonged to the European lineage. AA variants were detected in 16.0% of cases. African variants belonging to classes Af1 (4.0%) and Af2 (1.3%) were detected. Different HPV types and HPV16 intratype variants are involved in oncogenic HPV infections in our population. These results suggest that HPV type distribution differs in CSW/IPW women and in the general population, although further analysis is necessary.

Typing human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) by nested polymerase chain reaction: application to clinical specimens

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and II provirus DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MT-2 (HTLV-I infected), C3/44 Mo (HTLV-II infected) cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from HTLV seropositive samples were used. The procedure consists of first amplification which detects both HTLV-I and HTLV-II, and a second amplification (nested-PCR) to discriminate between the two viruses and to improve sensitivity. Optimal conditions of MgCl2 concentration and annealing temperature were found for maximal amplification and specificity. This method was used for the amplification of conserved regions of pol and env genes. 1.5 pg of MT-2 and 5 pg of C3/44 Mo cell line DNAs were detected using nested-PCR and liquid hybridization in the pol system. The env system could detect 1.5 pg of MT-2 and 1.5 pg of C3/44 Mo cell lines DNAs using nested-PCR and liquid hybridization. The pol system can type both HTLV-I and HTLV-II in only two steps without the use of type-specific radiolabeled probes. Furthermore, this method can detect and discriminate the two viruses in one step PCR using the primers used in the nested-PCR. Nevertheless, there is a decrease in sensitivity of 100-fold. The results of five seropositive samples confirmed by Western blot are compared with PCR. PCR typed one of these samples as HTLV-I and the rest as HTLV-II. This technique is useful in cases such as window period, perinatal studies and when serologic results are not satisfactory.

Molecular epidemiology of HIV type 1 subtypes in equatorial guinea

Equatorial Guinea is endemic for HIV-1. This country borders to the north with Cameroon, where different subtypes belonging to group M, as well as group O strains, are circulating simultaneously. To assess the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Equatorial Guinea we analyzed 76 plasma samples collected throughout 1999 from seropositive individuals. Phylogenetic analysis of the gp41 region revealed that 53 were of subtype A, with 64% of these sequences clustering with CRF02_AG reference strains; 11 were of subtype C; 4 were of subtype D; 2 (closely related to subtype F2) were of subtype F; 3 were of subtype G, two of them forming a separate cluster with the recombinant circulating forms CRF06_cpx; 1 was of subtype H; and 2 were unclassifiable. Although subtype A is predominant, the presence of 14% of subtype C is also noteworthy. This work represents the first HIV-1 subtype distribution study in Equatorial Guinea.

Molecular characterization of non-B HIV type 1 subtypes from Africa in Spain

All of the known HIV-1 subtypes are present in sub-Saharan Africa. The B subtype is predominant in the United States and Europe, but previous studies have revealed that other subtypes are also in circulation. We report here on the genetic characterization of eight non-B subtype VIH-1 virus strains detected during 1999 in patients living in Spain and having epidemiological relationships with African countries. Five isolates clustering with recombinant form CRF02-AG came from West and Central Africa. One isolate was characterized as being of the D subtype in the gp41 region, and clustered with subtype A outside the CRF02-AG recombinant form, in regions C2V3 and p17. Another isolate was a G subtype, and the remaining isolate was an O subtype. In Spain, the B subtype is the most frequently detected HIV-1 subtype, although in more recent years non-B subtypes have been introduced through immigrant HIV-1-infected individuals coming from African countries, or through infected persons having relationships with endemically affected areas.

Seroprevalence of HIV and HTLV in a representative sample of the Spanish population

HIV and HTLV seroprevalence was determined by means of unlinked anonymous testing of 2144 sera, originally obtained from primary care patients by representative sampling of the Spanish population aged 15-39 years in 1996. HIV-1 seroprevalence was 4.3 per 1000 population in the 15-39 years age group [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-10.7] and 5.6 per 1000 (95% CI, 1.8-15.3) in the 20-39 years age group. Seroprevalence proved higher in males and urban residents. No antibodies to HIV-2 and HTLV-I were detected in any of the sera studied. However, presence of antibodies to HTLV-II was confirmed in one serum sample, while HTLV seroreactivity, though detected in another, could not be typed. The two HTLV-positive results equated to a seroprevalence of 1.9 per 1000 in the 20-39 years age group (95% CI, 0.3-8.6). HIV-I seroprevalence was consistent with previous estimates yielded by back-calculation. The level of HTLV seroprevalence found suggests endemicity.

Poliomyelitis in Spain, 1982-1984: virologic and epidemiologic studies

The authors present a detailed study of poliomyelitis in Spain for the years 1982, 1983, and 1984. The 50 cases reported have been epidemiologically classified following World Health Organization guidelines. Virus was isolated from 43 of these cases. Intratypic characterization was done using specifically absorbed antisera classifying the strains as non-Sabin-like and Sabin-like. The neutralizing antibodies in whole and fractionated sera were also determined. The largest number of paralytic poliomyelitis cases, 28, was found in children in the first year of life. Thirty of the cases were unvaccinated children. Poliomyelitis was not detected in adults during the period described. Wild strains isolated were type I and III, primarily from Gypsies. There was a significant incidence of vaccine-associated cases in recipients, as well as in contacts during 1982 and 1983. The cases were located in the Mediterranean and Southern zone. In 1984, total and vaccine-associated cases dropped dramatically.

Analysis and Management of HIV Peptide Microarray Experiments

Objectives: To develop a tool for then easy and user-friendly management of peptide microarray experiments and for the use of the results of these experiments for the study the immune response against HIV virus infection in clinical samples.

Methods: Applying bioinformatics and statistics for the analysis of data coming from microarray experiments as well as implementing a MIAME (Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment) compliant database for managing and annotating experiments, results and samples.

Results: We present a new tool for managing not only nucleic acid microarray experiments but also protein microarray experiments. From the analysis of experimental data, we can detect different profiles in the reactivity of the sera with different genotypes.

Conclusions: We have developed a new tool for managing microarray data including clinical annotations for the samples as well as the capability of annotating other microarray formats different to those based on nucleic acids. The use of peptide microarrays and bioinformatics analysis opens a new scope for the characterization of the immune response, and analyzing and identifying the humoral response of viruses with different genotypes.

Analysis and management of HIV peptide microarray experiments

OBJECTIVES

To develop a tool for then easy and user-friendly management of peptide microarray experiments and for the use of the results of these experiments for the study the immune response against HIV virus infection in clinical samples.

METHODS

Applying bioinformatics and statistics for the analysis of data coming from microarray experiments as well as implementing a MIAME (Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment) compliant database for managing and annotating experiments, results and samples.

RESULTS

We present a new tool for managing not only nucleic acid microarray experiments but also protein microarray experiments. From the analysis of experimental data, we can detect different profiles in the reactivity of the sera with different genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed a new tool for managing microarray data including clinical annotations for the samples as well as the capability of annotating other microarray formats different to those based on nucleic acids. The use of peptide microarrays and bioinformatics analysis opens a new scope for the characterization of the immune response, and analyzing and identifying the humoral response of viruses with different genotypes.