Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Molecular biology has long been used as a tool for basic research in virology. Its medical use is recent and has been supported both by numerous technical improvements and the discovery of new human viruses. This is illustrated by the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1, HIV-2, human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-I/II, and human herpesviruses (HHV) 6, 7 and 8. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gave a major boost to an extended use of molecular biology techniques. This resulted in a better knowledge of human viral infections as illustrated by studies on HIV and HHV-8. New viruses have been characterized. Molecular markers have permitted analysis of virus transmission cases, classification of genetic variants and detection of mixed infections. The quantitation of viral load has led to a better understanding of chronic infections and reactivations. As a tool for diagnosis, molecular biology is not yet considered as a universal alternative to classical procedures such as serology and antigen detection. However, major improvements in molecular biology techniques might question current diagnosis strategies in the very near future.
 ...
PMID:[Importance of molecular biology in retrovirus and herpesvirus infections]. 957 78

Reports pertinent to bacterial arthritis in 1997 included two large, multi-year surveys of joint infection in patients from defined European health districts, noting trends including the declining incidence of gonococcal arthritis and an increasing number of prosthetic joint infections. Children with infected joints generally fare better than adults despite having proportionately more infections due to gram-negative organisms, of which Hemophilus influenzae comprises an ever smaller portion as the fastidious Kingella kingea is emerging. Joint infections remain an uncommon complication of immunodeficiency due to HIV, with responsible agents, affected sites, and clinical course also influenced by certain HIV comorbidities such as intravenous drug user and hemophilia. The rare immunodeficient patient with hypogammaglobulinemia retains a nearly unique susceptibility to joint infection with mycoplasmas, which can cause considerable morbidity if not promptly recognized and treated. Polymerase chain reaction can detect remnants of bacteria in the face of negative conventional cultures, but inoculation of synovial fluid into blood cultures bottles may be a more immediate and practical method to increase the yield in suspected septic arthritis.
 ...
PMID:Bacterial arthritis. 972 94

Polymerase III (pol III)-dependent genes, like the adenoviral VA1 gene, are of particular interest for expressing small therapeutic RNAs into cells. A new VA1 RNA carrier molecule was generated through the deletion of the VA1 RNA central domain to give rise to the VAdeltaIV RNA vector that was devoid of undesirable physiologic activity (i.e., inhibition of the interferon-induced protein kinase, PKR). This vector was used to express in human cells hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Eight anti-HIV ribozymes were inserted at the 3'-end of this vector immediately before the four T-residues that serve as a transcription termination signal. Although the constructs were active in vitro, they failed to inhibit HIV replication in transient assays. Analysis of the intracellular ribozyme expression in cells revealed several anomalies. First, using mutant derivatives, we showed that the presence of two or three consecutive T-residues in the ribozyme portion was sufficient to promote the release of anomalous short transcripts. Second, when the ribozyme did not contain T-rich sequence, full-length transcripts were produced, but these transcripts were very unstable and were retained in the cell nucleus. In contrast, insertion of the ribozyme in place of the central domain of VA1 RNA led to production of full-length transcripts that were stable and located in the cytoplasm but that were not found to be active in vitro. Taken together, these results have important consequences for the future design of active intracellular ribozymes based on the use of pol III-transcribed genes.
 ...
PMID:3'-End modification of the adenoviral VA1 gene affects its expression in human cells: consequences for the design of chimeric VA1 RNA ribozymes. 982 65

Whether Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with multiple myeloma (MM) remains controversial. We assayed for KSHV DNA sequences in long-term bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from 26 patients with MM and 4 normal donors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers which amplify a KSHV gene sequence to yield a 233-bp fragment (KS330233 within open reading frame 26) was negative in all cases. Aliquots of these PCR products were used as templates in subsequent nested PCR, with primers that amplify a 186-bp product internal to KS330233. BMSCs from 24 of 26 (92%) patients with MM and 1 of 4 normal donors were KSHV PCR+. DNA sequence analyses showed interpatient specific mutations (2 to 3 bp). Both Southern blot and sequence analyses confirmed the specificity of PCR results. The presence of the KSHV gene sequences was further confirmed by amplifying T 1.1 (open reading frame [ORF] K7) and viral cyclin D (ORF 72), two other domains within the KSHV genome. Immunohistochemical studies of KSHV PCR+ MM BMSCs demonstrate expression of dendritic cell (DC) lineage markers (CD68, CD83, and fascin). Serological studies for the presence of KSHV lytic or latent antibodies were performed using sera from 53 MM patients, 12 normal donors, and 5 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/KSHV+ patients. No lytic or latent antibodies were present in sera from either MM patients or normal donors. Taken together, these findings show that KSHV DNA sequences are detectable in BMSCs from the majority of MM patients, but that serologic responses to KSHV are not present. Ongoing studies are defining whether the lack of antibody response is caused by the absence of ongoing infection, the presence of a novel viral strain associated with MM, or underlying immunodeficiency in these patients.
 ...
PMID:Detection of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus DNA sequences in multiple myeloma bone marrow stromal cells. 1002 74

The clinical and pathological features of eight cases of feline T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma are described. The disease occurred in older cats (mean age 11.4 +/- 3.9 years), which on initial examination generally showed enlargement of a single submandibular or cervical lymph node. After excision, there was no recurrence of the lesions at 6 months in three cats. In one further case, however, the lesion had recurred 6 months later; it was again excised but recurred after an additional 6 months. Microscopically, there was effacement of normal lymph node architecture by a nodular (n = 4) or diffuse (n = 4) proliferation of small to blastic lymphocytes, accompanied by a characteristic population of bizarre giant, or multinucleate, cells. The mitotic rate was low and mitoses were restricted to the atypical population. Immunophenotyping revealed the smaller lymphocytes to be a mixture of CD3+ MHC Class II+ T lymphocytes and BLA36+CD79variable MHC Class IIvariable B lymphocytes. The atypical cells were of the B-cell lineage (BLA36+MHC Class IIvariable). Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed no proviral DNA products of feline leukaemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus in tissue from any tumour, confirming that these neoplasms were not associated with either virus. The clinical, histological and immunophenotypic findings in these cats were identical with those of "nodular lymphocyte predominance (lymphocytic and histiocytic/L&H) Hodgkin's disease" in man.
 ...
PMID:T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in the cat. 1008 89

The potential to establish dual retroviral infections was investigated in this study. Groups of macaques infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) isolate (either GB122 or CDC77618) were exposed to the other virus at 2, 4, 8, 12, 14, or 72 weeks after primary inoculation. Dual infections were established in macaques simultaneously exposed to both viruses. In other groups, secondary infections were observed only if challenge occurred at early intervals after primary infection but before a full seroconversion. Polymerase chain reaction and virus-isolation data demonstrated that challenges at 8, 12, 14, or 72 weeks after infection with the initial isolate failed to result in a dual infection. Anti-HIV-2 serologic titers, CD4 levels, virus burden, and the ability to superinfect peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro were not correlated with susceptibility to or protection from secondary challenges in this investigation. These findings demonstrate a window period for susceptibility to dual infection and indicate that protection from retroviral infection may be achievable.
 ...
PMID:Identification of a window period for susceptibility to dual infection with two distinct human immunodeficiency virus type 2 isolates in a Macaca nemestrina (pig-tailed macaque) model. 1043 54

We report three cases of nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) with Reed-Sternberg-like (RS-like) cells of B-cell pheno- and/or genotype. Histologic analysis in all cases revealed diffuse nodal effacement by atypical lymphoid cells of variable size. Two of the three cases had features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT). Large mononuclear and binucleated cells with prominent eosinophilic nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm resembling classic RS cells and mononuclear variants were scattered throughout all biopsies. The lymphoma cells in the three cases were of T-cell lineage (CD3+, CD43+, and CD45RO+). The RS-like cells from all cases were CD30 and CD15 positive. In contrast to the neoplastic T cells, the RS-like cells lacked all T-cell markers and in two cases were positive for CD20. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) and EBER 1 (2/2) were detected in the RS-like cells in all cases. The neoplastic T cells were negative for EBV. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis demonstrated clonal rearrangements of the T-cell receptor gamma chain gene in the three cases. PCR analysis of microdissected RS-like cells for immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements in cases 1 and 3 showed an oligoclonal pattern. The presence of RS-like cells in PTCL represents a diagnostic pitfall, because in one case this observation led to a misdiagnosis of Hodgkin's disease (HD). The oligoclonal expansion of EBV-infected cells may be related to underlying immunodeficiency associated with T-cell lymphomas and AILT in particular. This phenomenon may provide the basis for some cases of Hodgkin's disease after T-cell lymphomas and suggests that they are clonally unrelated neoplasms. The expression of LMP1 appears to be crucial for the immunophenotype and probably for the morphology of the RS and RS-like cells appearing in diverse lymphoid malignancies, including HD, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and PTCL.
 ...
PMID:Peripheral T-cell lymphoma with Reed-Sternberg-like cells of B-cell phenotype and genotype associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. 1052 24

Polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed to amplify and determine the V3 loop sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from ten seropositive patients at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan. The nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acid (a. a.) sequences of these V3 regions were compared with those of known HIV-1 prototypes. The V3 loop a. a. sequences detected in eight individuals belong to subtype B which predominates in North America and Europe, whereas two individuals were infected with HIV-1 subtype E which is mainly found in the heterosexual populations of Thailand. Sequence analysis of these variant HIV-1 strains revealed a number of interesting features and a phylogenetic tree was also constructed according to the V3 loop nucleotide sequences of these variant strains and HIV-1 isolates from other parts of the world. Furthermore, our results suggest that the north vs south geographical separation in terms of HIV-1 epidemiology in Taiwan is insignificant.
 ...
PMID:Molecular subtyping of the HIV-1 V3 loop sequences detected in HIV-1-positive patients in southern Taiwan. 1059 16

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is an important cause of morbidity and death among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of respiratory specimens has been investigated as a rapid diagnostic method. We have previously reported on the utility of this technique for diagnosing PCP in HIV-infected patients. In this report we evaluate PCR used in a blinded study design to avoid biases inherent to retrospective and nonblinded studies. The diagnosis of PCP was established on the basis of clinical findings and morphological studies of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and/or lung biopsy specimens before PCR testing. PCR was performed without knowledge of the diagnosis. PCR results were graded from "negative" to 3+ on the basis of intensity of the banding pattern. Forty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, including 18 with proven PCP and 29 with other conditions. PCR was positive at grade 1 or higher for all 18 patients with PCP (100% sensitivity), at grade 2 or higher for 13 patients (72.2% sensitivity), and at grade 1 or higher for 4 of the 29 control patients (specificity of 86.2%). If a grade 2 or higher was required for diagnosis, the specificity improved to 100%. Results were reproducible with testing of a second aliquot for 46 of 47 patients (97.8%). Our findings confirm that PCR is a sensitive and reproducible test for detection of P. carinii in BAL specimens. Problems with false-positive results for control patients, however, limit the applicability of this method.
 ...
PMID:Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with polymerase chain reaction: a blinded comparison to standard methods. 1061 42

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are used increasingly for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and can be used on the DNA obtained from both frozen and formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissues. However, the extraction of DNA by means of the conventional phenol/chloroform method is time consuming and requires the use of potentially dangerous chemical reagents. This paper describes a method based upon the use of magnetic beads for the extraction of M tuberculosis DNA from both routinely formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissues and frozen tissues. Magnetic bead extracted DNA from brain, lymph node, and lung tissues collected from patients with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis was compared with that extracted using the phenol/chloroform method. The magnetic bead extraction procedure requires less than two hours, including the time necessary to dewax the tissue sections. In all cases, the DNA extracted with both methods was amplified successfully by PCR for the M tuberculosis IS6110 sequence. Magnetic bead DNA extraction can be used on both frozen and archival tissues: the method is reliable, simple, sensitive, and rapid; in addition, it does not use hazardous procedures or specialised laboratory equipment and can be used for routine DNA isolation from various human tissues.
 ...
PMID:Use of magnetic beads for tissue DNA extraction and IS6110 Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR. 1062 38


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>