Detection Of Epstein-Barr Virus Research Articles

Unveiling the Impact of Epstein-Barr Virus on the Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Given the consistent detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in prostate tissues and the clinical evidence suggesting its involvement in prostate cancer (PCa), the potential association between EBV infection and PCa warrants further investigation. This study aimed to assess the causal relationship between EBV infection and PCa using Mendelian randomization (MR). We utilized data from a publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) on PCa, alongside data on five serum anti-EBV virus-related antibodies. Our findings indicate a potential causal link between serum EBV EA-D antibody levels and an increased risk of PCa. These results highlight the need for additional research to elucidate the mechanisms by which EBV may contribute to the progression of PCa, potentially offering new insights into its pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.

Association Between Antibodies That Bind Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) gp350 and gH/gL and Shedding of EBV in Saliva From Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Multiplex Family Members in Taiwan.

Elevated levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gp350 and gH/gL antibodies have been associated with a lower risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), although the evidence remains inconclusive and unexplained. We conducted a longitudinal study within a high-risk Taiwanese cohort, analyzing total immunoglobulin against EBV-gp350 and -gH/gL in blood and EBV DNA shedding in saliva. Contrary to our hypothesis-that elevated levels of antibodies previously shown to be associated with a lower NPC risk should result in a decrease in EBV shedding in saliva-higher anti-gp350 antibodies at baseline were significantly associated with detectable EBV DNA in saliva at follow-up (odds ratio [OR], 1.99 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.03-3.97]; P = .04). Higher anti-EBV-gH/gL antibodies at baseline were not significantly associated with risk of detectable EBV DNA at follow-up (OR, 0.69 [95% CI, .35-1.32]; P = .26). These findings underscore the complexity of virus-host interactions and emphasize the need for further investigations into their role in EBV-associated diseases.

Quantitatively assessed blood leukocyte Epstein–Barr virus in adult HIV-infected patients

Coinfection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) represents a current biomedical problem. The purpose of the study was to evaluate blood leukocyte EBV detection rate and viral load in adult HIV-infected patients. Materials and methods. There were examined blood leukocytes collected from 138 HIV(+) and 68 HIV(–) individuals aged 20–69 years. Statistical analysis was carried out differentiated according to the stages of HIV infection, the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Results. It was shown that EBV DNA was detected significantly more often in HIV(+) vs HIV(–) individuals (70.3±3.9% and 48.5±6.1%, p = 0.008), with EBV viral load comprising 18 [5; 139] versus 2 [1; 3] copies/105 cells (р 0.001), respectively. It has been shown that the group of HIV(+) patients is heterogeneous in the frequency of EBV detection and viral load, with the peak EBV frequency (86.7±6.2%) and DNA (121 [34; 252] copies/105 cells) level observed in “naive” patients with severe immunodeficiency. Among “experienced” patients receiving therapy, the relative risk of detecting EBV DNA with low treatment adherence was significantly higher compared to those who developed high adherence (р 0.05). When the HIV viral load reached undetectable level, EBV DNA concentration was significantly lower where HIV RNA was detectable (1 [0; 8] versus 15 [1; 162] copies/105 cells, р 0.001). Detection of EBV DNA is associated with higher HIV viral load level and lower CD4+ T-lymphocyte count compared to patients with undetected EBV DNA. A relationship has been established between the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count in HIV(+) patients and the likelihood of active EBV infection. A threshold cut-off of 200 cells/μl was determined. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count 200 cells/μl vs ≥ 200 cells/μl (р 0.001) is associated with a 3.3-fold higher risk of detecting active EBV infection. Conclusion. It is necessary to continue interdisciplinary research to improve early diagnostics of EBV-associated diseases in HIV-infected individuals.

The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with different midpoint-radiotherapy Epstein-Barr virus DNA plasma loads

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with different midpoint-radiotherapy (mid-RT) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA plasma loads for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and to provide decision-making regarding the use of AC. Materials and methodsA total of 675 consecutive patients diagnosed with stage III–IVa NPC were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), either with or without induction chemotherapy or AC, or a combination of both. The primary endpoint of this study was progression-free survival (PFS). ResultsAmong the 675 enrolled patients, 248 (36.7 %) received AC and 427 (63.3 %) were only observed after CCRT. In total, 149 (22.1 %) patients had detectable mid-RT EBV DNA levels, whereas 526 (77.9 %) had undetectable mid-RT EBV DNA levels. Patients with detectable mid-RT EBV DNA had worse 5-year PFS than those with undetectable mid-RT EBV DNA (74.8 % vs. 81.9 %, P = 0.045). AC group showed significantly better 5-year PFS than observation in patients with detectable mid-RT EBV DNA (82.8 % vs. 66.8 %; HR, 0.480; 95 % CI 0.250–0.919, P = 0.027). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the treatment methods (AC vs. observation) were independent prognostic factors for PFS (HR, 0.37; 95 % CI 0.19–0.74, P = 0.005). However, in patients with undetectable mid-RT EBV DNA (5-year PFS: HR 0.873, 95 % CI 0.565–1.349, P = 0.52), AC group showed no survival benefit for observation. ConclusionAC could reduce the risk of disease progression compared to observation in patients with detectable mid-RT EBV DNA. Our findings suggest that AC is effective in patients at a high risk of treatment failure.

Presence of herpesviruses, parvoviruses, and polyomaviruses in sinonasal lymphoma

PurposeSinonasal lymphoma (SL) is a rare lymphatic neoplasm of the nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. Whereas some risk factors for SL subtypes have been identified, their aetiology is unknown. Along with other predisposing factors, the viral association of lymphomas, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Burkitt and Hodgkin lymphomas, is well-established. Modern molecular biology techniques have enabled the discovery of novel human viruses, exemplified by the protoparvovirus cutavirus (CuV), associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. These findings, and the anatomical location of the sinonasal tract with its rich microbiome and infectious agents, justify in-depth studies among SL.MethodsWe analysed the presence of 20 viruses of Orthoherpesviridae, Parvoviridae, and Polyomaviridae by qPCR in 24 SL tumours. We performed RNAscope in situ hybridisation (RISH) to localize the viruses. Parvovirus-specific IgG was analysed by enzyme immunoassay and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was applied to detect CuV in plasma.ResultsWe detected viral DNA in 15/24 (63%) tumours; nine of EBV, six of human herpesvirus (HHV) -7, four each of HHV-6B and parvovirus B19, two of cytomegalovirus, and one each of CuV and Merkel-cell polyomavirus. We found tumours with up to four viruses per tumour, and localized CuV and EBV DNAs by RISH. Two of the ten plasma samples exhibited CuV IgG, and one plasma sample demonstrated CuV viremia by NGS.ConclusionViruses were frequent findings in SL. The EBV detection rate was high in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and co-detections with other viruses were prevalent.

Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection in benign thyroid lesions.

The objective was to investigate the correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the development of benign thyroid lesions. 29 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), 133 cases of thyroid adenoma, and 34 cases of HT with thyroid adenoma paraffin embedded tissue samples were used for EBV and HPV quantitative detection. None of the tissue samples carried HPV DNA. In HT tissue samples, the positive rate of EBV was 55.2% (16/29). In thyroid adenoma tissue samples, the positive rate was 37.6% (50/133). In HT combined with thyroid adenoma tissue samples, the positive rate of EBV was 67.6% (23/34). There was no correlation between EBV infection and clinical features such as age and gender. The occurrence and development of benign thyroid lesions are closely related to EBV infection. HT combined with thyroid adenoma may be more susceptible to EBV infection than simple HT and thyroid adenoma, which provides a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of benign thyroid lesions.

A Multiplex Fluorescence of Loop Primer Upon Self-Dequenching Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus and Human Parvovirus B19 in Clinical Transplant Samples.

Viral infections are major causes of mortality in solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Parvovirus B19 (B19V) are among the common viral infections after transplantation and were recommended for increased screening in relevant guidelines. Therefore, the development of rapid, specific, and cost-effective diagnostic methods for EBV and B19V is of paramount importance. We applied Fluorescence of Loop Primer Upon Self-Dequenching Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (FLOS-LAMP) for the first time to develop a novel multiplex assay for the detection of EBV and B19V; the fluorophore attached to the probe are self-quenched in unbound state. After binding to the dumbbell-shaped DNA target, the fluorophore is dequenched, resulting in fluorescence development. The novel multiplex FLOS-LAMP assay was optimized by testing various ratios of primer sets. This novel assay, with great specificity, did not cross-react with the common virus. For the detection of EBV and B19V, the limits of detection could reach 969 and 798 copies/μL, respectively, and the assay could be completed within 25 min. Applying this novel assay to detect 200 clinical transplant individuals indicated that the novel assay had high specificity and good sensitivity. We developed multiplex FLOS-LAMP assay for the detection of EBV and B19V, which has the potential to become an important tool for clinical transplant patient screening.

Herpesviridae and Atypical Bacteria Co-Detections in Lower Respiratory Tract Samples of SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

Shortly after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of viral, bacterial, and fungal coinfections in hospitalized patients became evident. This retrospective study investigates the prevalence of multiple pathogen co-detections in 1472 lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples from 229 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients treated in the largest intensive care unit (ICU) in Slovenia. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, (rt)RT-PCR tests were used to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and atypical bacteria: Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila/spp. At least one co-detection was observed in 89.1% of patients. EBV, HSV-1, and CMV were the most common, with 74.7%, 58.1%, and 38.0% of positive patients, respectively. The median detection time of EBV, HSV-1, and CMV after initial SARS-CoV-2 confirmation was 11 to 20 days. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tracheal aspirate (TA) samples showed equivalent performance for the detection of EBV, CMV, and HSV-1 in patients with both available samples. Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a risk factor for latent herpesvirus reactivation, especially HSV-1, EBV, and CMV. However, additional studies are needed to elucidate the clinical importance of these findings.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus among chronic kidney disease patients in Najaf, Iraq

Abstract Many people across the world have been infected with Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a kind of a human herpes virus. Loss of kidney function happens progressively with time in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Individuals with CKD may be more susceptible to viral infections such as EBV due to their compromised immune systems. The purpose of this research is to quantify the frequency with which EBV infection occurs in patients with CKD in the Al-Najaf governorate. Blood samples from 50 people with CKD and 50 healthy controls were collected for the study at the Specialized Centre for Diseases and Kidney Transplant at Al-Sadder Medical City in Al-Najaf city. Nineteen of the CKD patients were men, whereas 31 were women. The age range of individuals who took part in the research varied from 17 to 47. The time frame for this study’s data gathering was from January 2022 to December 2022. Fifty hemodialysis patients gave blood samples for analysis. Researchers measured anti-EBV IgG antibodies using the ELISA method to evaluate the efficacy of humoral immunity. Eleven (22% of all samples) were found to have positive results for Epstein Barr nuclear antigen2 (EBNA2) IgG. This number was 43.1% of all males and 38.4% of all females. However, the serum concentration was found to be statistically significantly higher in the age range of 17-26 years (p0.05) than in any other age group. The RT-qPCR method was also applied to detect EBV infection in the study. Only 18 (36% of the sample) of the 50 patients had positive RT-qPCR results for EBV. This number was 15.7% of all males and 48.4% of all females; however, the positivity rate increased to 71.4% in the (17-26) age group and decreased to 28.5% in those older than 57. Results from the control group were negative for EBNA2 IgG antibodies and EBV DNA. Findings of this research demonstrate that the prevalence of EBV antibodies is considerably higher among patients undergoing hemodialysis than in the group serving as a control, regardless of age. In addition, the results of the study support the use of real-time PCR for detecting EBV among patients with CKD, due to its high sensitivity and specificity.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNAemia in saliva of viral encephalitis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a lymphotropic virus that causes diseases ranging from a flu-like illness called infectious mononucleosis to nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and central nervous system (CNS) infection. Detection of EBV DNA is usually done using whole blood samples taken from the patients. We undertook the detection of EBV in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and saliva by real-time quantitative PCR in two patients, one with a history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the other having a case of viral encephalitis. EBV was detected only in saliva, whole blood in both patients, and CSF in the second case tested negative. This case series illustrates the importance of testing for EBV DNAemia in saliva by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to rule in a diagnosis of EBV.

Development of a Rapid Epstein-Barr Virus Detection System Based on Recombinase Polymerase Amplification and a Lateral Flow Assay.

The quality of cellular products used in biological research can directly impact the ability to obtain accurate results. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a latent virus that spreads extensively worldwide, and cell lines used in experiments may carry EBV and pose an infection risk. The presence of EBV in a single cell line can contaminate other cell lines used in the same laboratory, affecting experimental results. We developed three EBV detection systems: (1) a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection system, (2) a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based detection system, and (3) a combined RPA-lateral flow assay (LFA) detection system. The minimum EBV detection limits were 1 × 103 copy numbers for the RPA-based and RPA-LFA systems and 1 × 104 copy numbers for the PCR-based system. Both the PCR and RPA detection systems were applied to 192 cell lines, and the results were consistent with those obtained by the EBV assay methods specified in the pharmaceutical industry standards of the People's Republic of China. A total of 10 EBV-positive cell lines were identified. The combined RPA-LFA system is simple to operate, allowing for rapid result visualization. This system can be implemented in laboratories and cell banks as part of a daily quality control strategy to ensure cell quality and experimental safety and may represent a potential new technique for the rapid detection of EBV in clinical samples.

Multiple cross displacement amplification combined with nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of Epstein-Barr virus.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a highly dangerous virus that is globally prevalent and closely linked to the development of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Plasma EBV DNA analysis is an effective strategy for early detection, prognostication and monitoring of treatment response of NPC. Here, we present a novel molecular diagnostic technique termed EBV-MCDA-LFB, which integrates multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) with nanoparticle-based lateral flow (LFB) to enable simple, rapid and specific detection of EBV. In the EBV-MCDA-LFB system, a set of 10 primers was designed for rapidly amplifying the highly conserved tandem repeat BamHI-W region of the EBV genome. Subsequently, the LFB facilitate direct assay reading, eliminating the use of extra instruments and reagents. The outcomes showed that the 65°C within 40 minutes was the optimal reaction setting for the EBV-MCDA system. The sensitivity of EBV-MCDA-LFB assay reached 7 copies per reaction when using EBV recombinant plasmid, and it showed 100% specificity without any cross-reactivity with other pathogens. The feasibility of the EBV-MCDA-LFB method for EBV detection was successfully validated by 49 clinical plasma samples. The complete detection process, consisting of rapid template extraction (15 minutes), MCDA reaction (65°C for 40 minutes), and LFB result reading (2 minutes), can be finalized within a 60-minutes duration. EBV-MCDA-LFB assay designed here is a fast, extremely sensitive and specific technique for detecting EBV in field and at the point-of-care (PoC), which is especially beneficial for countries and regions with a high prevalence of the disease and limited economic resources.

Microfluidic bead-based biosensor: Ultrasensitive ctDNA detection based on duplex-functional split-DNAzyme and dendritic enzyme-free signal amplification

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a crucial cancer biomarker for early or noninvasive monitoring, which is essential for developing ultrasensitive and selective assays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, a cascade signal amplification of duplex-functional split-DNAzyme and dendritic probes was proposed for ultrasensitive and specific detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA on microfluidic microbead array chips. With the assistance of Pb2+, the duplex-functional split-DNAzyme recognizes EBV DNA and then rapidly cleaves the substrate strand. Subsequently, the released target could be recycled, and its exposed capture probe, triggered the dendritic enzyme-free signal amplification. As the enhanced mass transfer capability, target recycling, and dendritic DNA structure signal amplification inherent to microfluidic bead arrays were integrated, it achieved an excellent detection limit of 0.36 fM and a wide linear range of 1 fM∼103 fM. Further, it was applied to content detect simulated samples of EBV DNA, recovery ranged from 97.2 % to 108.1 %, and relative standard deviation (RSD) from 3.3 % to 5.9 %, exhibiting satisfactory recovery results. The developed microfluidic biosensor was a high-sensitivity and anti-interference system for ctDNA analysis, with minimal reagent volumes (microlitres) required. Thus, it is a promising platform for ctDNA at the lowest level at their earliest incidence.

Patterns and Prognosis of Local Recurrence of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma after Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the patterns of local failure and prognosis in patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) after primary intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods: The data of 298 patients with locally rNPC after IMRT were retrospectively analyzed. Magnetic resonance images of the initial and recurrent tumors were reviewed and, for patients with extra-nasopharyngeal local recurrence, the gross tumor volume of local recurrence was transferred to the original IMRT plan for dosimetry analysis. Significant prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) were selected by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: The commonest recurrence sites were the nasopharynx (93%, 277/298) and skull base (53.7%, 160/298). Of the 21 patients with extra-nasopharyngeal recurrence (19 cases valid), 12 had in-field failures, 4 had marginal failures, and 3 had out-field failures. The ethmoid sinus (57.1%, 4/7) and nasal cavity (28.6%, 2/7) were the most frequent sites of marginal and out-field failures. After median follow-up of 37 months, the 3-year and estimated 5-year OS rates were 57.3% and 41.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age, recurrence interval, plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level, and recurrent T stage were independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: Local failure after IMRT occurs most commonly in the nasopharynx and skull base. In patients with extra-nasopharyngeal recurrence, in-field failure remains the main failure pattern, and marginal and out-field failures mainly occur in the ethmoid sinus and nasal cavity. Elder age, shorter recurrence interval, detectable plasma EBV DNA, and advanced recurrent T stage are negative predictors of OS in patients with rNPC.

Frequency and association of Epstein-Barr Virus genotype in rheumatoid arthritis patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated, polyarthritis linked with various genetic and environmental causative agents. Among environmental triggers, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is considered the most potent etiological agent. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of EBV and its genotypes in RA patients and to investigate their association with clinical and laboratory parameters of RA. This study included blood samples of RA and control healthy individuals (100 each). Blood samples along with clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from patients after consent in the Department of Rheumatology, at Lady Reading Hospital, in Peshawar Pakistan. Blood samples were processed for DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification for EBV detection and genotype discrimination. RA patients were 85 females and 15 males with a mean age of 40.13±14.05 years. EBV Type-1 was detected in 45% of RA and 9% of control cases. The mean disease duration of RA patients was 6.61±6.23 years. Out of 100 diseased patients, 43% were seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (SPRA) and showed a significant correlation with a family history of RA in EBV-positive individuals (P = 0.017). The demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of RA patients showed a non-significant association with EBV. Moreover, only a family history and Serum creatinine of RA patients showed a significant association with EBV (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.022 respectively). It is concluded that EBV-1 is prevalent and associated with RA. Further investigation is required for detailed genetic analysis of EBV to determine its possible role in modulating the immune system in RA.

Longitudinal post-radiotherapy plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA trends inform on optimal risk stratification in endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

ObjectivesTo characterize longitudinal changes in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA post-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, and investigate whether an early (0–2 weeks) or delayed (8–12 weeks) EBV DNA result better predicts for disease-free survival (DFS). Materials and MethodsHistologically-confirmed NPC patients with ≥1 EBV DNA test quantified using the harmonized BamHI-W polymerase chain reaction-based assay at 0–2 and 8–12 weeks post-radiotherapy were included. ResultsWe identified 302 patients with EBV DNA measured at 0–2 weeks post-radiotherapy; of which, 110 (36.4 %) underwent a repeat test at 8–12 weeks post-treatment. Patients harboring a detectable EBV DNA at 0–2 weeks experienced an inferior DFS (adjusted HR1-264 copies 1.72 [95 %CI: 1.05–2.83], P = 0.031; AHR≥265 copies 4.39 [95 %CI: 1.68–11.44], P = 0.002 relative to 0 copies/mL). At 8–12 weeks, we observed substantial shifts in EBV DNA readings from 0 to 2 weeks; 76/110 (69.1 %) and 34/110 (30.9 %) patients at 0–2 weeks versus 90/110 (81.8 %) and 20/110 (18.2 %) at 8–12 weeks recorded undetectable and detectable EBV DNA, respectively. Positive EBV DNA at 8–12 weeks was strongly associated with relapse (73.3 % [11/15] for 1–264; 80.0 % [4/5] for ≥265 subgroups had relapses versus 15.6 % [14/90] for 0 copies/mL). Area under receiver operating curve values for 2-year relapse rates were 0.817 (95 %CI: 0.725–0.909) for stage + EBV DNA8-12w versus 0.654 (95 %CI: 0.542–0.765) for stage + EBV DNA0-2w. ConclusionEBV DNA is dynamic post-radiotherapy, and delayed EBV DNA testing better enriched for higher-risk NPC patients. This implicates trials investigating adjuvant chemotherapy intensification based on early EBV DNA testing.

Association of Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) with Multiple Sclerosis in Northwest of Iran

Background and Objective. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the nervous system that leads to demyelination of the nerves and is more common in young adults, especially women. Environmental factors that trigger MS pathogeneses are genetic susceptibility and viral infections. The viral infections are considered to be of particular relevance. Along with viruses belonging to the Herpesviridae family such as varicella zoster virus (VZV), human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), and particularly Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), the expression of the env gene of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W) like MSRV is expected to be one of the risk factors for bringing up MS and disease progression. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between EBV infection and HERV-W env in a case group (MS patients) and a control group (healthy individuals). Materials and Methods. 130 subjects were enrolled in a case-control study at two tertiary university hospitals from Tabriz (Imam and Razi), Iran. Of these, 65 subjects were MS patients serving as the case group, and 65 subjects were healthy individuals serving as the control group. After DNA extraction from all samples, the EBER region of EBV genome was used as the primer for the detection of EBV. RNA was extracted from PBMCs, and cDNA synthesis was performed by using Sina Gene kit. Subsequently, each sample was analysed by RT-PCR with two sets of primers to detect specifically multiple sclerosis retroviruses (MSRV) env, and RT-PCR was repeated for each HERV-W env. Positive sample was used in order to confirm the result. Results. In the case group, 19 (29.2%) patients were male and 46 (70.8%) patients were female. Nevertheless, in the control group, 21 (32.3%) subjects were male and 44 (67.7%) subjects were female. No significant difference was found between groups in gender (p = 0.70). The mean range in control and case groups was 33/38 ± 9/85 and 33.18 ± 8.65, respectively. No significant difference was found between groups in age (p = 0.902). 4 (6.2%) patients in case groups were found to be positive for EBV DNA (p = 0.119). Expression of the env gene of HERVs was observed in 10 (15.38%) and two (3.07%) specimens in the case and control groups (p = 0.030), separately. A comparison of the prevalence of the HERV ENV genome between the two study groups showed a significant difference (p = 0.005). Conclusion. The results of this study failed to show any difference between MS patients and healthy controls in the rate of EBV infection. It can be concluded that the expression of HERV-W/env genes may be involved in the development of MS in these patients.

Oral chemotherapy versus observation alone in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with persistently detected circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus DNA during follow-up

AimDespite the high risk of tumor recurrence, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with persistently (at least twice) detected circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels during follow-up are routinely recommended to keep observation. For these patients, whether administering more aggressive treatment could improve survival outcomes remains unknown. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively included 431 patients with nonmetastatic NPC with persistently detected EBV DNA during follow-up, who do not have clinical or imaging evidence of recurrence. Among these patients, 79 were administered oral chemotherapy, and the remaining 352 underwent observation alone. Baseline characteristics were balanced with propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. The primary endpoint was modified disease-free survival (mDFS), defined as time from detectable EBV DNA result to tumor recurrence or death. The secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). ResultsOne-to-three PSM resulted in 251 eligible patients (oral chemotherapy group, 73; observation group, 178). In the matched cohort, the oral chemotherapy group had higher median mDFS (12.9 months [95 % confidence interval [CI] 9.6–16.3] vs. 6.8 months [95 % CI 5.8–7.8], p = 0.009) and DFS (24.1 months [95 % CI 18.5–29.7] vs. 16.7 months [95 % CI 14.4–19.1], p = 0.035) than the observation group. The median OS was numerically higher in the oral chemotherapy group than in the observation group (57.9 months [95 % CI 42.5–73.3] vs. 50.8 months [95 % CI 39.7–61.9], p = 0.71). A consistent benefit favoring oral chemotherapy was observed for mDFS in all subgroups analyses for male, <45 years, stage III-IVa disease, pretreatment EBV DNA load ≥ 4,000 copies/mL, no induction chemotherapy, or a detectable EBV DNA load ≥ 1,200 copies/mL. After adjusting for other confounders in the multivariate analysis, oral chemotherapy remained a significantly favorable factor for both mDFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.67, 95 % CI 0.50–0.89; p = 0.006) and DFS (HR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.51–0.91; p = 0.01), but not a significant factor for OS (HR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.62–1.27; p = 0.52). ConclusionsIn patients with NPC having persistently detected EBV DNA levels but without clinical or imaging evidence of recurrence during follow-up, oral chemotherapy significantly prolongs mDFS and DFS. Employing oral chemotherapy as a more aggressive treatment option, as opposed to mere observation, could potentially benefit these patients, although further prospective validation is necessitated.

Betel Quid Chewing and Alcohol Consumption Co- Variate with Detection of Epstein - Barr Virus (EBV) DNA in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissues: Preliminary Evidence from a Subset of an Unmatched Case-Control Study

Introduction: There is a dearth of information on the detection of oncogenic EBV in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues in the Sri Lankan context. This subset of an unmatched case-control study aims to detect EBV-DNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues of a group of Sri Lankan male patients. Method: Subset was selected representing the vast majority of OSCC patients in Sri Lanka, from an unmatched case-control study. Incisional biopsies of cases and excisional biopsies of controls were collected and stored at -800 C. DNA was extracted from frozen specimens, and Real-Time PCR was performed to detect target DNA of this ubiquitous virus, in histologically confirmed 27 Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) cases and clinically diagnosed 26 Fibroepithelial-Polyp (FEP) controls with better quality DNA. Socio-demographic and substance abuse data were collected from 29 cases and 25 controls by a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire, and the data were entered and analyzed using the SPSS-21 Statistical Package. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to determine the significance of qualitative and quantitative data statistically. The overall EBV prevalence was 34/53 (64.2%). In OSCC cases the EBV positivity was higher 21(77.8%) than the FEP controls 13 (50.0%), and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.035). The cases were higher betel quid chewers (p = 0.003) and heavy alcohol consumers (p =0.001) than the control group. Conclusion: Betel quid chewing and alcohol consumption co-variate with the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues which warrants further investigations.

Molecular detection of Epstein-Barr virus among Sudanese patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

ObjectivesHashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The exact mechanism initiating the development of HT is not yet clear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between HT and the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a Sudanese population.ResultsEBV-LMP1 was detected in 11.1% of HT cases, which is consistent with previous studies. Studies have reported a wide range of frequencies indicating the presence of EBV in HT, and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have increased titers of anti-EBV antibodies in their sera compared to healthy subjects. Intrathyroidal EBV-infected B cells may be responsible for the increased risk of development of B-cell lymphoma in the thyroid gland in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Our study suggests that regular follow-up is necessary for patients diagnosed with HT and are positive for EBV, as antiviral therapy is not applicable due to the risk of thyroid dysfunction. The study suggests an association between EBV and HT, but causation cannot be determined. The study also highlights the need for further research to determine the viral role and correlate it with the severity and progression of HT.