Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshimi Enose-Akahata, Limin Wang, Fahad Almsned, Kory R. Johnson, Yair Mina, Joan Ohayon, Xin Wei Wang, Steven Jacobson
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and the cause of MS remains unknown. This study investigated the antibody responses against various viruses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of MS patients, and found significant differences compared to healthy volunteers, as well as a pattern of antibody responses against multiple viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus. These findings indicate that virus-specific antibody signatures might reflect the disease-associated inflammatory milieu in the CSF of patients with neuroinflammatory diseases.
Review
Immunology
Gianmarco Bellucci, Angela Albanese, Caterina Rizzi, Virginia Rinaldi, Marco Salvetti, Giovanni Ristori
Summary: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The COVID-19 pandemic has reignited interest in the biology of interferon in health and disease, expanding its potential applications beyond neuroinflammation. The antiviral properties of IFN-beta align with the viral etiology hypothesis of MS, particularly in relation to the Epstein-Barr Virus. Furthermore, IFNs play a crucial role in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and IFN-beta has shown protective effects against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with MS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deborah K. Johnson, Kaylia M. Reynolds, Brian D. Poole, Matthew D. Montierth, Vera M. Todd, April Barnado, Mary F. Davis
Summary: Patients with autoimmune disorders have altered cancer risks compared to the general population, with a strong association between viral infection and increased cancer risk. SLE and MS patients are more susceptible to viral infections, and preventing viral infections through vaccination may help control cancer risk for these patients.
Review
Microbiology
Cyril Debuysschere, Magloire Pandoua Nekoua, Didier Hober
Summary: Viral infections, particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), have long been suspected to play a role in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and type 1 diabetes. EBV has a complex lifecycle in infected B-cells, producing viral proteins and miRNAs. This review highlights the detection of EBV infection in MS patients, focusing on markers of latency and lytic phases. The presence of latency proteins, antibodies, and miRNAs in the central nervous system of MS patients suggests a link between EBV and MS.
Review
Microbiology
Somayeh Sedighi, Omid Gholizadeh, Saman Yasamineh, Sama Akbarzadeh, Parya Amini, Parnia Favakehi, Hamed Afkhami, Akram Firouzi-Amandi, Daryoush Pahlevan, Majid Eslami, Bahman Yousefi, Vahdat Poortahmasebi, Mehdi Dadashpour
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and is characterized by compartmentalized chronic inflammation. Genetic and environmental factors are believed to play important roles in the development of MS. Viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), have been identified as triggers for MS due to their ability to evade immune detection and reactivate. This study examines the impact of viral infections on MS risk and explores strategies for prevention, including targeting the important virus EBV.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Jessica Frau, Giancarlo Coghe, Lorena Lorefice, Giuseppe Fenu, Eleonora Cocco
Summary: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, with Sardinia having one of the highest prevalence rates. Infections, genetic factors, and Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) have been associated with the development of MS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Hannes Vietzen, Philippe L. Furlano, Jan J. Cornelissen, Georg A. Boehmig, Peter Jaksch, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stoeckl
Summary: This study found that nonclassic human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E)-restricted immune responses have a significant impact on the development of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) diseases in the individual host. The highly expressed HLA-E*0103/0103 genotype is protective against infectious mononucleosis (IM) by inducing potent EBV BZLF1-specific HLA-E-restricted CD8(+) T-cell responses. Variations in the inhibitory NKG2A/LMP-1/HLA-E axis are associated with the risk of symptomatic EBV reactivations in both immunocompetent individuals and immunocompromised transplant recipients.
Review
Virology
Luwen Zhang
Summary: In this article, the authors propose that EBV can act as both an autoimmune initiator and promoter in autoimmune diseases. Different types of latency cells of EBV can enhance the development of autoimmune diseases and cause inflammatory cytokine production. The replenishment frequency of EBV latency cells may determine the specific effects of the promoter functions. A combination of a specific initiator and EBV-mediated promoter function may lead to the development of specific autoimmune diseases and link EBV infection to a variety of autoimmunity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulina Mertowska, Konrad Smolak, Sebastian Mertowski, Ewelina Grywalska
Summary: Interferons are immunomodulatory substances produced by the human immune system to fight infections. This review focuses on the interplay between the IFN system and medically important viruses such as HSV, influenza, HCV, LCMV, HIV, EBV, and SARS-CoV coronavirus, highlighting viral diversity. Research is ongoing to identify the specific genes and pathways involved in the antimicrobial response mediated by IFNs. Further interdisciplinary studies are needed to optimize their use in personalized therapeutics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mireya Fernandez-Fournier, Maripaz Lopez-Molina, Gabriel Torres Iglesias, Lucia Botella, Beatriz Chamorro, Fernando Laso-Garcia, Inmaculada Puertas, Antonio Tallon Barranco, Laura Otero-Ortega, Ana Frank-Garcia, Exuperio Diez-Tejedor
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against EBV antigens in EVs and their potential as diagnostic and disease activity blood biomarkers in RRMS. The results showed that patients with RRMS had higher levels of anti-VCA antibodies in EVs and plasma compared to healthy controls. Patients with active disease also had higher levels of anti-EBNA1 antibodies in EVs. Furthermore, the levels of EV anti-VCA correlated with disease duration and decreased brain volume structures in RRMS.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Massimiliano Castellazzi, Caterina Ferri, Alice Piola, Samantha Permunian, Gaia Buscemi, Michele Laudisi, Eleonora Baldi, Maura Pugliatti
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In this study, we investigated the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a first-line treatment for MS, on the quantity and quality of EBV-specific IgG in MS patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mickael Bouvet, Stefanie Voigt, Takanobu Tagawa, Manuel Albanese, Yen-Fu Adam Chen, Yan Chen, N. Devin Fachko, Dagmar Pich, Christine Goebel, L. Rebecca Skalsky, Wolfgang Hammerschmidt
Summary: Research shows that multiple Epstein-Barr virus-encoded miRNAs play crucial roles in regulating type I IFN response in newly infected human B cells, while dampening the acute release of IFN-alpha in pDCs upon encounter with EBV.
Article
Oncology
Thomas Pfeiffer, Ifigeneia Tzannou, Mengfen Wu, Carlos Ramos, Ghadir Sasa, Caridad Martinez, Premal Lulla, Robert A. Krance, Lauren Scherer, Daniel Ruderfer, Swati Naik, Claire Bocchini, Iain P. Fraser, Badrish Patel, Dany Ward, Tao Wang, Helen E. Heslop, Ann M. Leen, Bilal Omer
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of posoleucel in allo-HCT recipients infected with viral infections. The results showed that posoleucel had good tolerability and achieved significant efficacy in treating multiple viral infections.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jeremy T. Keane, Ali Afrasiabi, Stephen D. Schibeci, Nicole Fewings, Grant P. Parnell, Sanjay Swaminathan, David R. Booth
Summary: The study found gender-specific associations with EBV traits and MS risk SNP/gene pairs, with some genes showing gender differences in correlation of gene expression level with Estrogen Receptor 2. Estradiol treatment altered MS risk gene expression, LCL proliferation rate, EBV DNA copy number, and EBNA2 expression in a sex-dependent manner, indicating estrogen-mediated gender-specific differences in MS risk gene expression and EBV functions. This may contribute to gender differences in host response to EBV and MS susceptibility.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Tomas Olsson
Summary: MS is a multifactorial disease with genetic and environmental factors contributing to its etiology. HLA-DR15 and EBV are key factors increasing the risk of the disease, with the study showing higher viral load and immune response in HLA-DR15 carriers infected with EBV compared to non-carriers, potentially exacerbating MS.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Ina Rudloff, Thierry Jarde, Malte Bachmann, Kirstin D. Elgass, Genevieve Kerr, Rebekah Engel, Elizabeth Richards, Karen Oliva, Simon Wilkins, Paul J. McMurrick, Helen E. Abud, Heiko Muehl, Marcel F. Nold
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebekah M. Engel, Wing Hei Chan, David Nickless, Sara Hlavca, Elizabeth Richards, Genevieve Kerr, Karen Oliva, Paul J. McMurrick, Thierry Jarde, Helen E. Abud
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rebekah M. Engel, Karen Oliva, Christine Koulis, Raymond Yap, Paul J. McMurrick
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COLORECTAL DISEASE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Steven J. Mileto, Thierry Jarde, Kevin O. Childress, Jaime L. Jensen, Ashleigh P. Rogers, Genevieve Kerr, Melanie L. Hutton, Michael J. Sheedlo, Sarah C. Bloch, John A. Shupe, Katja Horvay, Tracey Flores, Rebekah Engel, Simon Wilkins, Paul J. McMurrick, D. Borden Lacy, Helen E. Abud, Dena Lyras
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Review
Oncology
Christine Koulis, Raymond Yap, Rebekah Engel, Thierry Jarde, Simon Wilkins, Gemma Solon, Jeremy D. Shapiro, Helen Abud, Paul McMurrick
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Toshinobu Nishimura, Haojun Xu, Masayuki Iwasaki, Daiki Karigane, Brandon Saavedra, Yusuke Takahashi, Fabian P. Suchy, Shinichiro Monobe, Renata M. Martin, Manami Ohtaka, Mahito Nakanishi, Scott R. Burrows, Michael L. Cleary, Ravindra Majeti, Akira Shibuya, Hiromitsu Nakauchi
Correction
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Michael P. Pender, Peter A. Csurhes, Corey Smith, Nanette L. Douglas, Michelle A. Neller, Katherine K. Matthews, Leone Beagley, Sweera Rehan, Pauline Crooks, Tracey J. Hopkins, Stefan Blum, Kerryn A. Green, Zara A. Ioannides, Andrew Swayne, Blake T. Aftab, Kaye D. Hooper, Scott R. Burrows, Kate M. Thompson, Alan Coulthard, Rajiv Khanna
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zara A. Ioannides, Peter A. Csurhes, Nanette L. Douglas, Gem Mackenroth, Andrew Swayne, Kate M. Thompson, Tracey J. Hopkins, Kerryn A. Green, Stefan Blum, Kaye D. Hooper, Kerstin H. Wyssusek, Alan Coulthard, Michael P. Pender
Summary: The study shows that autologous EBV-specific T cell therapy is well-tolerated and can lead to sustained clinical improvement, including reduced fatigue and improved Expanded Disability Status Scale score in MS patients. More sustained improvement is associated with higher EBV-specific CD8(+) T cell reactivity in the administered T cell product.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Yide Wong, Michael T. Meehan, Scott R. Burrows, Denise L. Doolan, John J. Miles
Summary: More than 90% of the adult population globally is chronically infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is associated with various malignancies. This review focuses on six cancers with a relatively large EBV-related case burden and estimates the new cases and deaths in 2020. The findings highlight the significant global impact of EBV-related cancers and suggest potential for EBV-specific therapeutic interventions.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rebekah M. Engel, Thierry Jarde, Karen Oliva, Genevieve Kerr, Wing Hei Chan, Sara Hlavca, David Nickless, Stuart K. Archer, Raymond Yap, Pravin Ranchod, Stephen Bell, Ann Niap, Christine Koulis, Ashley Chong, Simon Wilkins, Trevor C. Dale, Andrew J. Hollins, Paul J. McMurrick, Helen E. Abud
Summary: Patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids (PDCOs) have the potential utility in personalized cancer medicine, as they recapitulate key characteristics of the primary tumor and can be used as a powerful tool for cancer research.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Christian M. Nefzger, Thierry Jarde, Akanksha Srivastava, Jan Schroeder, Fernando J. Rossello, Katja Horvay, Mirsada Prasko, Jacob M. Paynter, Joseph Chen, Chen-Fang Weng, Yu B. Y. Sun, Xiaodong Liu, Eva Chan, Nikita Deshpande, Xiaoli Chen, Y. Jinhua Li, Jahnvi Pflueger, Rebekah M. Engel, Anja S. Knaupp, Kirill Tsyganov, Susan K. Nilsson, Ryan Lister, Owen J. L. Rackham, Helen E. Abud, Jose M. Polo
Summary: The impact of aging on intestinal stem cells is not fully understood. This study identified widespread epigenetic and transcriptional alterations in old ISCs. Key transcription factors were identified that drive molecular and functional differences between old and young states. These findings contribute to enhancing the regenerative capacity of intestinal stem cells.
NPJ REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rebekah M. Engel, Karen Oliva, Suellyn Centauri, Wei Wang, Paul J. McMurrick, Raymond Yap
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for anastomotic leak after rectal cancer surgery and assess its impact on perioperative and long-term oncological outcomes. A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 693 patients and it was found that the anastomotic leak rate was 3.75%. Male gender, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were identified as risk factors for anastomotic leak. Anastomotic leak was associated with increased reoperation, hospital readmission, and inpatient death rates, as well as negatively impacting disease-free and overall survival.
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Christine Georges, Raymond Yap, Stephen Bell, Keith Chip Farmer, Lauren C. L. Cohen, Simon Wilkins, Suellyn Centauri, Rebekah Engel, Karen Oliva, Paul J. McMurrick
Summary: This retrospective study evaluated the impact of four colorectal surgical procedures on patient-reported outcome measures. The study found that patients who underwent a right hemicolectomy had the best post-operative function and reduced symptoms, while patients who underwent an ultra-low anterior resection or an abdominoperineal resection had the worst outcomes.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zara A. Ioannides, Peter A. Csurhes, Andrew Swayne, Philippe Foubert, Blake T. Aftab, Michael P. Pender
Summary: In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the level of sTREM-2 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is positively correlated with T cell activation (sCD27), neuroaxonal damage (NfL and pNfH), disability (EDSS), and disease severity (MSSS).
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL-EXPERIMENTAL TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL
(2021)