Viral Immune Surveillance Research Articles

Late Primary B Cell Cerebral Lymphoma After Kidney Transplant: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Primary central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PCNS-PTLD) is a serious and uncommon complication which can be developed months or years after a Kidney transplant. Immunosuppressive agents administered before and after transplantation to minimize the chances of allograft rejection has proved to be a double-edged sword that puts the host at risk of infectious, neoplastic and vascular diseases, including PCNS-PTLD. The immunosuppressive therapy leads to decreased innate malignant and viral immune surveillance and this has been shown to play a role in lymphoproliferative diseases after transplantation. In most cases, PCNS-PTLD is Epstein–Barr virus related. Case Description: A 60-year-old female with history of kidney transplant presented to the emergency room with history of low fever, dizziness nausea and vomiting for 1 month. MRI and CT scans showed a mass cerebellar lesion and a biopsy revealed Primary central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PCNS-PTLD). Conclusion: This case highlights the need for a careful long-term follow up of patients with kidney transplant. PCNS-PTLD represents a continuing long-term risk after transplantation, although less common. This case report supports observational data that suggests that peripheral blood screening for EBV DNA does not seem helpful for identification of PCNS-PTLD. Suspicion of PCNS PTLD should be considered when patients with long-term history of kidney transplant present neurological complaints.

Future Innovations in Viral Immune Surveillance: A Novel Place for Bioinformation and Artificial Intelligence in the Administration of Health Care.

Novel developments in bioinformation, bioinformatics and biostatistics, including artificial intelligence (AI), play a timely and critical role in translational care. Case in point, the extent to which viral immune surveillance is regulated by immune cells and soluble factors, and by non-immune factors informs the administration of health care. The events by which health is regained following viral infection is an allostatic process, which can be modeled using Hilbert's and Volterra's mathematical biology criteria, and biostatistical methodologies such as linear multiple regression. Health regained following viral infection can be given as Y being the sum-total of the positive factors and events (∏) that inherently push allostasis forward (i.e., the orderly process of immune activation and maturation) and the negative (N) factors and events that, allostatically speaking, interfere with regaining health. Any gaps in knowledge are filled by AI-aided immune tweening. Proof of concept can be tested with the fast-gaining infection using tick-borne Bunyavirus that cause severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS).

Spontaneous Regression of Highly Immunogenic Molluscum contagiosum Virus (MCV)-Induced Skin Lesions Is Associated with Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells and IFN-DC Infiltration

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) infection induces self-limiting cutaneous lesions in an immunocompetent host that can undergo spontaneous regression preceded by local inflammation. On histology, a large majority of MCV-induced lesions are characterized by islands of hyperplastic epithelium containing infected keratinocytes and surrounded by scarce inflammatory infiltrate. However, spontaneous regression has been associated with the occurrence of a dense inflammatory reaction. By histology and immunohistochemistry, we identified MCV-induced lesions showing a dense inflammatory infiltrate associated with cell death in keratinocytes (inflammatory Molluscum contagiosum (I-MC)). In I-MC, hyperplastic keratinocytes were highly immunogenic as demonstrated by the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules. Immune cell infiltration consisted of numerous cytotoxic T cells admixed with natural killer cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs). Accordingly, a type I IFN signature associated with PDC infiltration was demonstrated in both keratinocytes and inflammatory cells. Among the latter, a cell population resembling IFN-DC (CD123(+)CD11c(+)CD16(+)CD14(+)MxA(+)) was identified in proximity to islands of apoptotic keratinocytes. In vitro-generated IFN-DCs expressed a strong cytotoxic signature, as demonstrated by high levels of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Fas ligand (FasL). This study establishes a previously unreported model to underpin the role of innate immune cells in viral immune surveillance.

NKT cells and viral immunity.

Over the past 10 years a new population of cells has been the focus of much attention. The functions of these unique lymphocytes, characterized by the concomitant expression of T- and NK-cell markers and thus termed NKT cells, have been implicated in many diverse aspects of immunity, including regulation of autoimmune disorders, control of tumour growth and spread, and defence against a number of pathogens. Although much debate still remains as to the natural role of NKT cells, it is clear that these cells have the capacity, either constitutively or postactivation, to promote an amazing array of immunoregulatory responses. The involvement of NKT cells in viral immune-surveillance and their ability to induce protection against pathogens once activated make them an attractive clinical target.