Investigation of HGV and TTV infection in sera and saliva from non-hepatitis patients with oral diseases

Maternal plasma and salivary anelloviruses in pregnancy and preterm birth

Introduction

Human anelloviruses, including torque teno virus (TTV) and torque teno mini virus (TTMV), are ubiquitous in the general population and have no known pathogenicity. We investigated the prevalence and viral load of TTV and TTMV in plasma and saliva over pregnancy, and assessed their association with spontaneous or medically indicated preterm birth.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the Measurement of Maternal Stress (MOMS) study, which recruited 744 individuals with singleton pregnancies from 4 US sites (Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, and rural Pennsylvania). Baseline outpatient visits took place in the second trimester (between 12'0 and 20'6/7  weeks' gestation), and follow-up visits in the third trimester (between 32'0 and 35'6/7  weeks' gestation). In a case-control study design, participants who delivered preterm (<37 weeks) resulting from spontaneous labor and/or preterm premature rupture of membranes ("sPTB") were compared with participants experiencing medically indicated preterm birth ("iPTB"), or delivery at term ("controls"). Plasma and saliva samples obtained during the second and third trimesters were tested for the presence and quantity of TTV and TTMV using real-time PCR. Demographic data were obtained via self-report, and clinical data via medical record review by trained research personnel.

Results

TTV was detected in plasma from 81% (second trimester) and 77% (third trimester) of participants, and in saliva from 64 and 60%. Corresponding detection rates for TTMV were 59 and 41% in plasma, and 35 and 24% in saliva. TTV and TTMV concentrations were similar between matched plasma and saliva samples. TTV prevalence and concentrations were not significantly different between groups (sPTB, iPTB, and controls). However, plasma TTMV in the third trimester was associated with sPTB and earlier gestational age at delivery. The iPTB group was not different from either the sPTB or the control group. In saliva, concentrations of TTV and TTMV were similar among the three groups. Both TTV and TTMV were more prevalent with increasing parity and were more common in Black and Hispanic participants compared to non-Hispanic White participants.

Conclusion

Anellovirus presence (specifically, TTMV) in the third trimester may be associated with preterm birth. Whether this association is causative remains to be determined.

Detection of Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in porcine oral fluid samples: a longitudinal study under experimental conditions

Isolation of Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from oral fluids was first reported in 1997. The objective of the present study was to determine whether PRRSV and/or anti-PRRSV antibodies were present in oral fluids at diagnostic levels. The level and duration of PRRSV and anti-PRRSV antibodies in serum and oral fluids was evaluated in 3 age groups of pigs (4, 8, or 12 weeks of age) inoculated with a type 2 (North American) PRRSV isolate. Serum, buccal swabs, and pen-based oral fluid samples were collected for 63 days following inoculation. Specimens were assayed for PRRSV by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and for anti-PRRSV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus was detected by real-time qRT-PCR in serum for approximately 5 weeks and in oral fluids for approximately 4 weeks postinoculation. Pig age at the time of inoculation had no effect on the quantity or duration of virus in oral fluid samples. Low levels of anti-PRRSV antibody were detected in oral fluid samples by ELISA and IFAT. Although the approach remains to be validated in the field, the results of this experiment suggest that pen-based oral fluid sampling could be an efficient, cost-effective approach to PRRSV surveillance in swine populations.

Salivary Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics: The Emerging Concept of the Oral Ecosystem and their Use in the Early Diagnosis of Cancer and other Diseases

There is an increasingly growing interest world-wide for the genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of saliva and the oral cavity, since they provide a non-invasive source of unprecedently rich genetic information. The complexity of oral systems biology goes much beyond the human genome, transcriptome and proteome revealed by oral mucosal cells, gingival crevicular fluid, and saliva, and includes the complexity of the oral microbiota, the symbiotic assembly of bacterial, fungal and other microbial flora in the oral cavity. In our review we summarize the recent information on oral genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, of both human and microbial origin. We also give an introduction and practical advice on sample collection, handling and storage for analysis. Finally, we show the usefulness of salivary and oral genomics in early diagnosis of cancer, as well as in uncovering other systemic diseases, infections and oral disorders. We close the review by highlighting a number of possible exploratory pathways in this emerging, hot research field.

Development and application of a mixed microarray in detection of genes of HBV and HCV

AIM: To develop a DNA microarray to detect hepatitis virus B (HBV) DNA, hepatitis virus C (HCV) RNA, HBV YMDD mutant and HCV genotype simultaneously. At the same time, the chip was compared with other techniques to evaluate its prospect in clinical application.

METHODS: A set of probes was designed to detect HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HBV YMDD mutant and HCV genotype. The probes were synthesized by DNA synthesizer. The microarray was prepared by spotting the probes onto the specially treated glass sliders. Serum samples were collected from inpatients and outpatients at the Department of Infectious Diseases, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhongshan University. Among the samples, 20 were comfirmed HBV DNA positive by fluorescent quantitation PCR, 20 were HCV RNA positive, 20 were comfirmed YMDD mutant by mismatched PCR, 10 were HBV DNA and HCV RNA negative. HBV DNA and HCV RNA were extracted from the serum, then amplified by asymmetric PCR or RT-PCR in the presence of sense fluorescein labeled primers. The products of HBV YMDD and HCV NS-5 were purified and sequenced. Following the hybridization of amplified products on the microarrays, detection was carried out by the fluorescence scanner. The detection results were obtained by analyzing the intensity and ratio of the fluorescence signals using image analysis software.

RESULTS: For the HBV DNA positive samples and HCV RNA positive samples, an intensive signal was observed at the point of corresponding probes on the microarrays. In detection of YMDD mutant, the coincident rate of the microarray and the mismatched PCR was 75%, the coincident rate of microarray and sequencing was 95%. In detection of HCV genotype, the coincident rate of microarray and sequencing was 75%.

CONCLUSION: The technology of microarray appears to be versatile, with a great sensitivity and specifity in detection of HBV and HCV. Furthermore, it can find co-infection of different virus strains. But it has some false negative rate and false positive rate in HCV genotyping.

Pathogenicity of GB virus C on virus hepatitis and hemodialysis patients

AIM: To determine the pathogenicity of GB virus C (GBV-C) on liver and the effects of its co-infection on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with hepatitis B and C.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study was carried out in 413 patients with acute, chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis, and in 67 hemodialysis patients. A 20-month prospective cohort study was carried out in 95 hepatitis B and 80 hepatitis C patients. A reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) of the 5’-noncoding region was used to detect circulating GBV-C RNA. Liver function was determined by an automated analyzer for all patients.

RESULTS: The prevalence of GBV-C in the high-risk populations with the virus transmitted via blood was high, ranging from 16.2% to 28.8%. Co-infection with GBV-C in hepatitis B patients did not affect the clinical features of the disease or liver function. The dialysis patients infected with GBV-C alone did not develop functional changes to the liver. Prospective cohort study showed that GBV-C co-infection did not affect the clinical features, prognosis or negative serum conversion rate of chronic hepatitis B and C.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that GBV-C has no marked pathogenicity on liver, so it may not be a hepatitis virus.