Investigators from the University of Ferrara, Italy have found evidence suggesting that high levels of U94 in ciHHV6 may predispose to the formation of marker chromosomes. A patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma positive for inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6A and HHV-6A was also found in a marker chromosome, an abnormal piece of chromosome that is seen in some leukemia and lymphomas.
Anemia: Deformation of erythroblasts caused by HHV-6
A group from Japan has found that the deformation of erythroblasts seen in transient erythroblastopenia of childhood, is caused by HHV-6. Erythroblasts are progenitor cells in the bone marrow, necessary for the production of red blood cells.
New evidence linking HHV-6A U24 protein to MS
HHV-6 has been linked in numerous studies to multiple sclerosis. Now, investigators at the University of British Columbia have published new data suggesting that HHV-6A may be a key player in the development of multiple sclerosis. The investigators propose that the viral protein U24 may dysregulate myelination.
CD46 may function as a receptor for some strains of HHV-6B
A group from Aarhus University propose that differing isoform patterns of CD46 correlate with the ability of some HHV-6B strains to enter T cells.
HHV-6 encephalopathy associated with structural changes in the olfactory pathway
Latvian researchers studied autopsy material from the olfactory bulb in patients with HHV-6 encephalopathy vs. controls and reported surprising differences.
Possible inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-7 identified in two patients
Investigators led by Bhupesh Prusty, PhD at University of Wurzbürg in Germany have identified two cases of possible germline inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-7.
miRNA changes by HHV-6A parallel those found in autoimmune thyroid disease
Investigators by at the University of Ferrara report intriguing alterations in intracellular regulation of HHV-6A-infected thyrocytes and T cells. HHV-6A, but not HHV-6B nor HHV-7, altered expression of several microRNAs in a pattern that is considered a marker for patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.
HHV-6 lymphadenopathy mimicking lymphoma
Investigators at Yale University warn that hypersensitivity-associated HHV-6 lymphadenopathy can have the same presentation as lymphoma.
Announcing the new “Dharam Ablashi Research Fund”
The HHV-6 Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of a new $250,000 research fund to honor the work Dharam Ablashi, the co-discoverer of HHV-6. The gift was made possible by a generous donation from a patient family in appreciation of Dharam’s outstanding service to the field of HHV-6 research over four decades. The funds will be used to offer pilot grants of up to $25,000 each to investigators seeking to gather preliminary data before embarking on larger studies.
HHV-6 identified in 12% of simple and 42% of complex pediatric febrile seizures
Australian investigators studied 143 young children with febrile seizures for signs of viral infection and found that HHV-6 was the fifth most common virus after rhinovirus (22%), enterovirus (20%), adenovirus (21%) and influenza (13%). Overall, a virus was found in 71% of cases. Virus found in complex seizures was associated with HHV-6 (42%) or influenza (41%).
HHV-6, HHV-7 & EBV found in lymphoproliferative disorders of the ocular adnexa
Biopsies from patients with 5 types of lymphoproliferative disorders of the ocular adnexa, were found to contain HHV-6 DNA in 9 of 70 (12.9%) samples. While an overall detection rate of 12.9% is significant, HHV-6 was even more prevalent among those with benign lymphoproliferative disorders; HHV-6 was found in 22.7% of those with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease and 28.6% of those with orbital reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.
New study shows how HHV-6 suppresses natural killer cell function
A group from Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered the mechanism by cells with actively replicating HHV-6 evade elimination by natural killer (NK) cells.
Stem cell transplant patients with HHV-6 reactivation are 15X more likely to reactivate with CMV
Italian investigators found that 87% of patients with HHV-6 reactivations went on to develop a CMV infection. On the other hand, in patients who did not reactivate with HHV-6, only 33% developed an active CMV infection.
Immune reconstitution dramatically alters chance of survival in stem cell transplant patients with HHV-6 reactivation
Only 11% of HHV-6 reactivated patients with poor immune reconstitution survived compared to 63% in patients with higher levels of T cells (or over 200 CD3+ lymphocytes per microliter).