Review
Immunology
Anthony L. Komaroff, Roberta Rizzo, Jeffrey L. Ecker
Summary: HHV-6A and HHV-6B are ancient human viruses that can cause lifelong infection and are associated with various diseases. These viruses may have an impact on infertility, preeclampsia, and other reproductive diseases, but further research is needed to fully understand their role.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Anthony L. Komaroff, Philip E. Pellett, Steven Jacobson
Summary: This review examines the evidence that Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) may trigger neurological diseases in humans, including encephalitis in immunocompromised patients and febrile seizures in infants and children. It also discusses the criteria for linking infectious agents to neurologic diseases and evaluates the extent to which these criteria have been met for HHV-6A/B and various neurological conditions.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Elham Bahramian, Mercede Furr, Jerry T. Wu, Ruben Michael Ceballos
Summary: Within the family Herpesviridae, there are three human herpesviruses that have been described: HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7. Despite their high genetic sequence similarity, HHV-6A and HHV-6B are now recognized as distinct viruses. The mechanisms of action and relative contributions of these viruses to neurological dysfunction are unclear. This study shows that both HHV-6A and HHV-6B can infect different nerve cell types and neurotransmitter phenotypes, and HHV-6A induces more severe cytopathic effects. These findings provide insights into potential mechanisms for HHV6-induced epileptogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Vivien R. Schack, Litten Sorensen Rossen, Clara Christina Ekebjaerg, Katrine Kyd Holstein Thuesen, Bettina Bundgaard, Per Hollsberg
Summary: The genetic approach showed that CD46 is critical for infection by HHV-6A, while CD9 modulates infection by promoting CD46-dependent infection and impairing CD46-independent infection. HHV-6B appears to be more promiscuous and may use different entry mechanisms in various cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Brianna S. Chrisman, Chloe He, Jae-Yoon Jung, Nate Stockham, Kelley Paskov, Dennis P. Wall
Summary: This study uses whole genome sequencing data to reveal information about the human blood DNA virome, focusing on human herpesvirus 6A, 6B, and 7. The research finds that household structure drives the transmission of several viruses and identifies the characteristic inheritance patterns of inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus 6. Additionally, the study demonstrates widespread integration and reactivation of HHV-6B and HHV-7 in lymphoblastoid cell lines.
Article
Virology
Laure Izquierdo, Clemence M. Canivet, Eleonora De Martin, Teresa M. Antonini, Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso, Audrey Coilly, Claire Deback
Summary: This article reports a case of a patient with iciHHV-6A and iciHHV-6B who developed acute fulminant hepatic failure after using ulipristal acetate, and the Mendelian inheritance of the virus was confirmed through family studies. Due to the rarity of this presentation, the possible links between iciHHV-6 and adverse drug reactions were discussed, and it was suggested to screen for iciHHV-6 before using hepatotoxic drugs.
Article
Immunology
Grant C. Weaver, Richa Arya, Christine L. Schneider, Amy W. Hudson, Lawrence J. Stern
Summary: This article reviews the structural biology of viral immunoevasins, introduces the current status of computational structure prediction algorithms, and predicts and evaluates the structural models for U20 and U21 proteins, providing insights into viral immune evasion.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Michael L. Wood, Colin D. Veal, Rita Neumann, Nicolas M. Suarez, Jenna Nichols, Andrei J. Parker, Diana Martin, Simon P. R. Romaine, Veryan Codd, Nilesh J. Samani, Adriaan A. Voors, Maciej Tomaszewski, Louis Flamand, Andrew J. Davison, Nicola J. Royle
Summary: Human herpesviruses 6A and 6B can transition between telomere-integrated and free virus forms, with mainly maternal transmission of acquired virus observed in families. Some healthy adults have shown telomere integration of acqHHV-6B in saliva, indicating latency. The excision of viral genome from telomeres in iciHHV-6B carriers is high and tissue-specific, with potential reactivation from circular extrachromosomal forms.
Article
Microbiology
Misa Miyake, Yoshiki Kawamura, Naoko Ishihara, Shigetaka Suzuki, Hiroki Miura, Yoko Sakaguchi, Masaharu Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Seiji Kojima, Hiroshi Toyama, Jun Natsume, Tetsushi Yoshikawa
Summary: The study found that HHV-6B infection may impair the hippocampus in pediatric HSCT recipients, with a significant impact on the volume ratio of the right and left hippocampus. Some patients with HHV-6B infection developed encephalopathy at the time of infection, but others did not show neurological symptoms.
Review
Immunology
Wangko Lundstroem, Rasmus Gustafsson
Summary: The role of HHV-6A in multiple sclerosis is controversial, but recent studies suggest that HHV-6A may play a significant role, especially in the early stages of the disease. MS patients show an increased immune response against HHV-6A compared to HHV-6B. Furthermore, HHV-6A infection interacts with other factors that may modulate MS susceptibility and progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Jorge Bartolome, Consolacion Molto, Javier David Benitez-Fuentes, Gonzalo Fernandez-Hinojal, Aranzazu Manzano, Pedro Perez-Segura, Abhenil Mittal, Faris Tamimi, Eitan Amir, Alberto Ocana
Summary: Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study found that HLA-G expression is associated with overall survival (OS) in solid tumor patients, particularly in gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rasmus Gustafsson
Summary: HHV-6A infection in DC leads to cell death and release of HMGB1 protein, as well as Th2 polarization, which may pose risks for inflammatory pathologies associated with HHV-6A such as multiple sclerosis.
Article
Virology
Xin Zhang, Qiwen Fang, Sibo Zhu, Xuefu Wu, Huangbo Yuan, Zhenqiu Liu, Yiyun Xu, Tao Chen, Yan Zeng, Tiejun Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the genetic and environmental predisposing factors for KSHV infection among the Uygur population in Xinjiang, China. The findings revealed that sweet-food preference, coronary heart disease, and genetic variation in HLA-DQB1*06:09 were strongly associated with KSHV infection.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Tian Tang, Junli Jia, Emanuela Garbarino, Luyao Chen, Jingjing Ma, Peipei Li, Xiangjun Chen, Lily Wang, Yiqun Wen, Yuhang Wang, Lingyun Li, Kun Yao, Huamin Tang
Summary: HHV-6A U4 inhibits APP degradation, leading to the typical pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as accumulation of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and loss of neural cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Salma Aktar, Jun Arii, Thi Thu Huong Nguyen, Jing Rin Huang, Mitsuhiro Nishimura, Yasuko Mori
Summary: This study analyzed the role of CREB family of transcription factors in HHV-6A replication. The results showed that HHV-6A infection enhances phosphorylation of CREB family members CREB1 and ATF1. Knockout of CREB1 or ATF1 enhances viral gene expression and viral replication. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis revealed that sensors of the innate immune system are downregulated in ATF1-KO cells and mRNA of IFN-beta and IFN-regulated genes are reduced in HHV-6A-infected cells. Treatment of ATF1-KO cells with IFN-beta significantly reduces viral yields.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Virology
Serena Messali, Antonella Bugatti, Federica Filippini, Arnaldo Caruso, Francesca Caccuri
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Antonella Bugatti, Federica Filippini, Serena Messali, Marta Giovanetti, Cosetta Ravelli, Alberto Zani, Massimo Ciccozzi, Arnaldo Caruso, Francesca Caccuri
Summary: Severe COVID-19 is associated with angiogenic features and direct infection of human lung endothelial cells by SARS-CoV-2. The Spike protein of the virus interacts with integrins on lung endothelial cells, promoting a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic phenotype. Recent mutations in the Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 may result in decreased infection of lung endothelial cells and potentially less severe disease manifestations.
Article
Virology
Irene Soffritti, Maria D'Accolti, Carla Gallenga, Roberto De Giorgio, Matteo Guarino, Martina Maritati, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Carlo Contini, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Secretory IgA (sIgA) was detected in the eye of COVID-19 patients, potentially playing a crucial role in early defense against SARS-CoV-2. This study analyzed tear samples from 77 COVID-19 patients to characterize sIgA mucosal immunity in the eye, including 63 vaccinated and 14 non-vaccinated subjects. The data showed significant differences in ocular sIgA response between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, suggesting the potential use of tear-based sIgA tests as a biomarker for assessing mucosal immunity development against SARS-CoV-2.
Editorial Material
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Roberta Rizzo, Francesca Caccuri, Giuseppe Valacchi, Giorgio Zauli
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Costanza Baldisserotto, Valentina Gentili, Roberta Rizzo, Chiara Di Donna, Luna Ardondi, Annalisa Maietti, Simonetta Pancaldi
Summary: Microalgae, specifically Neochloris oleoabundans, cultivated under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions, were found to produce whole aqueous extracts with antiviral properties against HCoV-229E. The extracts contained bioactive compounds such as lipids, exo-polysaccharides, phenolics, proteins, and pigments. The study suggests that the inhibitory effect of the extracts is mainly attributed to the combination of proteins, pigments, and phenolics in autotrophic cultures, and proteins, acidic exo-polysaccharides, and lipids in mixotrophic cultures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria D'Accolti, Irene Soffritti, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Luca Arnoldo, Antonella Volta, Matteo Bisi, Paola Antonioli, Patrizia Laurenti, Walter Ricciardi, Sara Vincenti, Sante Mazzacane, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Microbial contamination in hospitals poses a significant threat to public health, particularly due to the development of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) observed in these pathogens. Traditional chemical disinfection has limitations, as it can lead to the selection of resistant strains. In contrast, probiotic-based sanitation, along with the addition of lytic bacteriophages, has been shown to effectively reduce pathogens and AMR. This study investigated the combined use of probiotics and phages in two Italian hospitals, demonstrating that it significantly reduced staphylococcal contamination compared to disinfectants and probiotics alone. Routine use of chlorine inactivated the probiotic/phage components, highlighting the need for careful compatibility when implementing biological sanitation methods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Daniela Iaconis, Francesca Caccuri, Candida Manelfi, Carmine Talarico, Antonella Bugatti, Federica Filippini, Alberto Zani, Rubina Novelli, Maria Kuzikov, Bernhard Ellinger, Philip Gribbon, Kristoffer Riecken, Francesca Esposito, Angela Corona, Enzo Tramontano, Andrea Rosario Beccari, Arnaldo Caruso, Marcello Allegretti
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, drug repurposing was an effective strategy in quickly addressing medical emergencies. The anti-viral activity of DHFR inhibitors, including methotrexate, against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using cell lines. Results showed that these inhibitors not only had intrinsic anti-metabolic activity but also specific anti-viral functions, making them potential candidates for managing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Silvia Beltrami, Sabrina Rizzo, Francesca Caccuri, Roberta Rizzo, Daria Bortolotti, Giovanna Schiuma
Article
Microbiology
Irene Soffritti, Maria D'Accolti, Clara Maccari, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Maria-Cristina Arcangeletti, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Tissue fibrosis, a common cause of organ malfunction, is not well understood. This study investigates the impact of HCMV/HHV-6A coinfection on the expression of pro-fibrotic miRNAs. The results suggest a synergistic effect of the two viruses in inducing enhanced miRNA-driven fibrosis and the potential use of virus-induced miRNAs as biomarkers for SSc.
Article
Polymer Science
Denise Bellotti, Maria D'Accolti, Walter Pula, Nicolas Huang, Fanny Simeliere, Elisabetta Caselli, Elisabetta Esposito, Maurizio Remelli
Summary: In this study, a formulation suitable for the administration of calcitermin on vaginal mucosa was developed for the treatment of fungal infections. The rheological behavior, erosion, and leakage of different gel formulations were compared, and the selected gel was loaded with calcitermin. The calcitermin-loaded gel showed improved release kinetics and enhanced anticandidal activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Soffritti, Sabine Gravelsina, Maria D'Accolti, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Anda Vilmane, Santa Rasa-Dzelzkaleja, Zaiga Nora-Krukle, Angelika Krumina, Modra Murovska, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease without diagnostic biomarkers, but there is evidence supporting a role of herpesviruses and microRNAs in its development. This study found that six out of eight selected microRNAs were differently expressed in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. The levels of these microRNAs correlated with disease severity but not with pro-inflammatory cytokines or HHV-6A/6B genome levels. These results suggest that microRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers and provide insights into ME/CFS pathogenic mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Irene Soffritti, Maria D'Accolti, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Antonella Volta, Matteo Bisi, Silvia Rossi, Francesco Viroli, Marcello Balzani, Marco Petitta, Sante Mazzacane, Elisabetta Caselli
Summary: Beach sand can harbor potential human pathogens, posing a threat to public health. However, the monitoring of sand microbiome is rarely conducted to assess beach quality. This study analyzed the microbial population of a Northern Adriatic Sea beach sand, finding the presence of drug-resistant strains and suggesting quicklime as a possible method to decontaminate sand.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Matteo Gelardi, Rossana Giancaspro, Massimo Landi, Luigi Santoiemma, Maddalena Balestra, Michele Cassano, Roberta Rizzo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the patient journey of Italian patients suffering from otitis externa (OE), with a focus on new therapeutic options. The results showed that OE is a common, often relapsing disease with antibiotic resistance becoming a growing problem. New liposomal ozone-based preparations were found to be the most-prescribed treatment.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
