Investigators from Japan looked at HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA levels in saliva to see if they might be biomarkers for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in multiple myeloma patients.
HHV-6 small non-coding RNA proposed as an indicator of an early stage of HHV-6 reactivation
German investigators have identified a marker for what they believe is the earliest stage of viral reactivation, or “transactivation” marked by transcription of several viral small non-coding RNAs in the absence of detectable viral replication. The group believes that these viral small RNAs could be developed as biomarkers.
National Institute on Aging encourages grant proposals on HHV-6A & HHV-7 in Alzheimer’s
NIH leaders of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) encouraged investigators with experience in virology and infectious disease to apply for funding to study Alzheimer’s disease. The encouragement came at a workshop held at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago on July 22nd.
Gene-expression network analysis points to HHV-6A as a key driver in upregulating genes leading to Alzheimer’s disease progression
Investigators at Mt Sinai used “big data” models to determine that the genes involved with fighting Alzheimer’s are the same ones that fight virus. They found HHV-6A and HHV-7 to be more abundant in Alzheimer’s brains, and singled out HHV6-A as a key modulator of the genes involved in amyloidosis and neuronal death.
HHV-6 and HSV1 dramatically accelerate amyloid plaque production in Alzheimer’s model
Researchers at Harvard studied how neurons responded to the presence of herpesviruses HSV1 and HHV-6, and found that they rapidly induce amyloid plaque production within 24 to 48 hours.
Antiviral therapy reduces risk of dementia in Taiwan seniors with a history of acute herpesvirus infections
Large insurance data studies in Taiwan have found that seniors with shingles or serious HSV1 infections have a 2-3 fold increased risk of certain forms of dementia, and that antiviral treatment can reduce that risk by 90%.
Infants with HHV-6B seizures are 15X more likely to develop febrile status epilepticus
A large prospective study in Africa adds weight to argument that HHV-6B infection is an important cause of febrile status epilepticus.
HHV-6 encephalitis in 32% of pediatric leukemia patients depleted of naïve T cells
Although depleting naïve T cells has been successful in preventing acute graft vs host disease in several studies, investigators from Spain reported an unexpectedly high incidence of HHV-6 encephalitis in a cohort of haploidentical transplant patients.
Apparent activation of ciHHV-6 in response to HDACi cancer drug vorinostat
Inherited ciHHV-6 has been shown to activate under conditions of immunosuppression and and the pan-HDAC inhibitor TSA activates integrated ciHHV-6 in vitro. This is the first case report of HHV-6 activation in a ciHHV-6 patient who received a pan-HDAC inhibitor drug.
HHV-6+ lymph nodes can lead to a faulty cancer diagnosis
Investigators at the National Cancer Institute found that HHV-6+ lymph nodes can be identified in biopsies from both lymphadenopathy and malignancies. They warn that failing to identify HHV-6 in these biopsies can lead to misdiagnosis in lymphoma cases.
HHV-6 reactivation associated with unexplained fever and biliary atresia in pediatric liver transplant patients
A Japanese study found that unexplained fever and biliary atresia are associated with HHV-6B infection in pediatric transplant patients. 100% of seronegative infants developed a primary infection.
FilmArray encephalitis/meningitis panel causing confusion due to undiagnosed ciHHV-6
Many institutions are now using a new multiplex qualitative assay to get rapid diagnosis in encephalitis cases in the clinic. Unfortunately, this system cannot identify cases of inherited chromosomal integration, which creates confusion.
HHV-6 in the news!
After years of very little interest by the scientific community, there has suddenly been a lot of interest in HHV-6A, which along with HHV-7, appears to be central to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.