Antibody response to a synthetic peptide derived from the human papillomavirus type 6/11 L2 protein in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: Correlation between southern blot hybridization,polymerase chain reaction,and serology

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is the most common benign tumour of the larynx, affecting both children and adults. We present a series of 25 patients, including 10 cases of juvenile multiple, 8 cases of adult solitary, and 7 cases of adult multiple RRP. Biopsy tissue from each patient was screened by Southern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Sera from patients and age- and sex-matched controls were tested for the presence of HPV-specific antibodies using a synthetic pep-tide derived from the minor capsid protein (L2) of HPV 6/11. By Southern blot hybridization and/or polymerase chain reaction, biopsies from all patients were positive for HPV 6/11 DNA. There was no difference in antibody response between cases and controls. Female cases and controls had significantly higher antibody titers than male subjects. A correlation was observed between the HPV-specific antibody level and the number of surgery-necessitating recurrences. © 1994 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.     

The value of pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM in BCG-vaccinated tuberculous pleurisy patients

Objectives   To determine if detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against mycobacterial antigen A60, together with the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST), could be used in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) in BCG-vaccinated cases.
Methods   We investigated 125 BCG-vaccinated patients with pleural effusion. Of these, 88 had TP and 37 had non-tuberculous pleurisy (NTP). TST and anti-A60 IgM and IgG measurements by ELISA were performed in the sera and pleural effusions of both groups.
Results   Cut-off values, in optical density, for serum anti-A60 IgM, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM, serum anti-A60 IgG and pleural fluid anti-A60 IgG were defined as 0.624, 0.614, 0.464, and 0.613, respectively. TP patients had higher IgG and IgM levels in the serum ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.05, respectively) and pleural effusion ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.001, respectively). Regardless of the diagnosis, IgG and IgM levels were higher in the sera ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.05, respectively) and pleural effusions ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.001, respectively) of TST-positive cases, and serum and pleural fluid IgM levels were higher ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.001, respectively) in the TST-positive TP cases. Sensitivity and specificity of TST were 65% and 68%, respectively. As a single parameter, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM had the highest sensitivity (77%) and specificity (94%) in patients with negative TST.
Conclusion   We suggest that in populations where tuberculosis prevalence is high and BCG vaccination is common, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM can facilitate the diagnosis of TP.     

Evaluation of a commercial test for antibodies to the chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (Medac) for serodiagnosis of acute infections by Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) and Chlamydia psittaci

A commercial test (rELISA) based on a recombinant chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen has been evaluated for the diagnosis of acute infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) and Chlamydia psittaci. This test and a microimmunofluorescence test (MIF) were compared in 160 patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Seventeen of nineteen cases with significant titre changes detected by rELISA were confirmed by MIF. The two remaining cases not confirmed by MIF were considered false-positive reactions. One case positive by MIF only was judged not to be a true-positive reaction. All three cases occurred in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and may be the result of a mitogenic effect. High antibody titres have been used to indicate acute C. pneumoniae infection. We found high MIF or rELISA titres to be equally common in patients and controls; no association between the two tests was detected. An unexpected cross-reactivity between the rELISA antigen and parvovirus was observed, which might have diagnostic implications. Both MIF and rELISA detected acute C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci infection, and there was good agreement between the tests. Single serum diagnosis was generally not feasible with either MIF or rELISA.     

Five newly identified HLA alleles: A*0310, A*2907, B*4435, Cw*0206, Cw*0506, and confirmation of A*3106, B*3924, Cw*0314, DRB1*0322, and DRB1*1433 alleles

A number of HLA alleles have been newly identified. This concerns HLA-A*0310, A*2907, B*4435, Cw*0206, Cw*0506, of which Cw*0206 was found in three unrelated individuals, all B*4002 positive. Some other alleles are also presented but confirm earlier detected sequences: A*3106, Cw*0314, DRB1*0322, and DRB1*1433. Moreover, we identified B*3924 in a bone marrow transplant recipient and in five of six unrelated stem cell donors, selected for this patient. In all cases, B*3924 was found on a haplotype combining A*0201, B*3924, Cw*0701, and DRB1*1303. The observation of this extended haplotype is of importance for the selection for stem cell transplantation. Cells expressing B*3924 and B*4435 were typed by serology as B39 and B44, respectively. Cells expressing HLA-A*0310 do not express A3 but type as A-Blank.     

Immunogenetics of two new HLA alleles: A*0108 and B*4031

Two new alleles, HLA-A*0108 and B*4031, were identified in north-western European Caucasoid subjects. A*0108 differed from A*010101 by a single substitution (C to T) at position 216 in exon 3, resulting in an amino acid difference of Arg to Trp at position 163. It was present on a haplotype with B*1501/60/70/71; Cw*0303; DRB1*1301; DRB3*0202; DQA1*0103; DQB1*0603 and its product reacted as a normal HLA-A1 specificity. B*4031 differed from B*4001 by two nucleotides in exon 3 (positions 20 (G to C) and 69 (A to G)) resulting in two amino acid differences (Arg to Ser at position 97 and Asn to Asp at position 114). It was found on a haplotype with HLA-A*03; Cw*0304; DRB1*0404/32; DRB4*0101/3/5; DQA1*03; DQB1*0302 and has the HLA-B60 specificity. Both alleles have frequencies of < 0.0002 in the largely north-western European Caucasoid blood donor population resident in Wales.     

Identification and molecular characterization of two diagnostically relevant marker proteins of the Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen complex

The molecular specificity of the IgG response against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was studied in 345 randomly collected sera of normal healthy individuals. The sera were tested on immunoblots containing antigens of the cell line HH514.c16 (a superinducible derivate of P3HR1), noninduced or induced for the expression of early antigens (EA) or viral capsid antigens (VCA), and from the EBV-negative cell line Ramos-Nut. This study reveals a remarkable similar antigen recognition pattern of IgG class antibodies in sera of healthy EBV carriers. The protein bands recognized predominantly have molecular weights of 18 kD, 36/38 kD, 40 kD, 72 kD, and 160 kD. The 72 kD and 36/38 kD bands were identified as EBNA1 and "Zebra," respectively, using reading frame-specific antisera. The bands at 160 kD (major capsid protein), 40 kD, and 18 kD were identified as VCA-class proteins. Of all EBV-seropositive sera tested, 98% reacted with either p18 or p40 or both. The synthesis of the antigens p18 and p40 was inhibited by phosphonoacetic acid, indicating that these were true late proteins. The detection of p18 and p40 in purified virion and capsid preparations confirms that these proteins are structural components of viral capsid antigen complex. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus-8 in blood donors from different geographical regions of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) causes Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorders in both HIV-infected and uninfected patients. HHV-8 has a worldwide occurrence but infection rates vary according to a combination of geographic and behavioral risks. The main transmission route seems to be sexual, nevertheless, nasal secretions, saliva, blood, and organ graft have been proposed. HHV-8 was postulated as a new infectious agent for screening in blood donors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against HHV-8 antigens in blood donors of South America. Serum samples from 2,470 blood donors from Argentina, Brazil, and Chile corresponding to five geographic regions were studied by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Seroprevalence rate was 3.7% (92/2,470; 95% CI 2.9-4.5) in the entire blood donor population distributed as follows: Argentina, 4.0% (Buenos Aires city, 4.3%; Bahia Blanca, 2.4%; and Córdoba, 4.0%), Campinas (Brazil), 2.8%; and Santiago de Chile, 3.0%. There was no difference (P>0.05) between men and women or age related, except in Brazil where positive cases were 30-49-year-old males. The present study, which includes different geographical areas of multiple countries from South America, has not been done before. The results show similar prevalence rates among the studied zones corresponding to low-prevalence regions. South America is a large sub-continent with a wide spectrum of population and geographical characteristics, thus, more HHV-8 prevalence studies should be necessary to establish possible regional differences.