Detection of nucleic acid sequences in cervical tumors

Serum IgA antibodies in HSV asymptomatic genital infections

Cervico-vaginal swabs and serum samples from 81 women without herpes-associated clinical symptoms were examined for virus isolation and for the presence of IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Nineteen of the 81 women were followed up for 2 years. Blood samples and swabs from cutaneous lesions were obtained from another group of 20 women (medical staff) with herpes labialis. By analysing the specific anti-HSV IgA antibodies, a higher geometric mean titre (GMT) was found in women with positive HSV-2 isolation (GMT = 380.03), as opposed to the GMT observed in women with negative HSV-2 (GMT = 63.43) or positive HSV-1 isolation (GMT = 55.15). Results from the longitudinal study also demonstrated that positive virus isolation always correlated with a marked rise in serum IgA antibody to HSV.

Viral agents in two-stage cervical carcinogenesis: an experimental study in mice

The role of chemical and viral agents in the development of cervical cancer in mice was studied by repeated carcinogen applications, repeated intravaginal instillations of HSV type II virus, and single carcinogen application as initiating agent followed by repeated instillations of virus as promoter. In all the animals studied, repeated applications of 9,10-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) induced dysplastic conditions of the cervix and vagina, mild, moderate, and severe, as well as a large number of invasive squamous cell carcinomas. DMBA alone as initiating agent did not induce tumors or marked dysplasia; when followed by repeated applications of HSV2 virus only mild dysplastic lesions occurred. Repeated applications of HSV2 alone produced inflammatory changes of the cervix and vagina. It is concluded that repeated intravaginal instillation of HSV2 virus as done in this study does not induce cervical cancer or its precursors, and in a two-stage system is only weakly a promoter of carcinogen-induced latent tumor cells.

Nucleic acid probes in clinical microbiology

The infectious disease applications of nucleic acid probe have been described. In addition, the basic procedures of nucleic acid probe technology have been discussed, as have the factors affecting implementation of probe technology in diagnostic laboratories. Despite the questions raised, nucleic acid probes will become part of the diagnostic laboratory in the near future. Commercial interests are developing and marketing new probes, reagents, and kits which will expedite the employment of this technology. High-volume reference laboratories will first use probes as part of a battery of tests which will include ELISA and monoclonal antibody methods. In all probability, probes will replace methods: that have proven to be ineffective, difficult, or costly such as culturing for some enteric pathogens and Legionella, that require long incubation periods, such as mycobacteria, or that have high costs and low yields, such as virology.