Viruses have evolved various strategies to prevent premature apoptosis of infected host cells. Some of the viral genes mediating antiapoptotic functions have been identified by their homology to cellular genes, but others are structurally unrelated to genes of known function. In this study, we used a random, unbiased approach to identify such genes in the murine cytomegalovirus genome. From a l...

BACKGROUND The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of antiviral agents to prevent, in solid organ transplant recipients, cytomegalovirus infection and symptomatic disease and to decrease the incidence of acute rejection, graft loss, and death. METHODS Of the studies identified, 13 met the following inclusion criteria: prospective randomized study, in adults or pediatric recip...

Recent advances in microRNA target identification have greatly increased the number of putative targets of viral microRNAs. However, it is still unclear whether all targets identified are biologically relevant. Here, we use a combined approach of RISC immunoprecipitation and focused siRNA screening to identify targets of HCMV encoded human cytomegalovirus that play an important role in the biol...

BACKGROUND Neonatal cholestasis syndrome with an intra or extrahepatic origin has been associated to viral infections. The participation of the cytomegalovirus in the etiopathogenesis of neonatal hepatitis has been already known for some time, but only recently there have been indications that this virus may be one of the possible etiological factors for extrahepatic biliary atresia. AIMS To ...

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus reactivation occurs within 6 months in 60-70% of cytomegalovirus-seropositive patients after allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), mainly due to immunosuppression associated with the procedure. Pre-emptive antiviral therapy reduces incidence of cytomegalovirus disease but can be toxic. To reduce the potential for disease and subsequent need for suc...

Murine cytomegalovirus was inhibited by 0.6 to 1.2 mug of cytosine arabinoside per ml and by 0.3 to 0.6 mug of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in mouse embryo fibroblast cells. Human cytomegalovirus was inhibited by similar concentrations of the two drugs in WI-38 cells. Intraperitoneal inoculation of suckling mice with 10(4.5) plaque-forming units of murine cytomegalovirus provides a model for dissemin...

Rhesus cytomegalovirus infection of rhesus macaques has emerged as a model for human cytomegalovirus pathogenesis. The UL128-UL131 locus of the human virus is a primary determinant for viral entry into epithelial cells, an important cell type during cytomegalovirus infection. Rhesus cytomegalovirus strain 68-1 spreads slowly when grown in cultured rhesus epithelial cells, and it does not code f...

BACKGROUND Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare proliferative histiocytic disease of unknown etiology. Histologically, it is characterized by granuloma-like proliferation of Langerhans-type dendritic cells derived from bone marrow. Many investigators have suggested the possible role of viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, ...

Cytomegalovirus is a common infection worldwide and in the immunocompromised individual it can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease cytomegalovirus infection has been described in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. A 34 year old man with an exacerbation of his colitis was diagnosed as having both cytomegalovirus colitis an...

Tumor specimens from patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum were examined for the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), and specimens of normal mucosa from the same patients were studied in parallel. Frozen sections of 14 specimens were made and the presence of CMV mRNA assayed by in situ hybridisation using 3H-labelled CMV-DNA as a probe. Nine of these sections were also tested for c...