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.
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.
Meta-analysis shows strong association of HHV-6B reactivation and subsequent aGVHD
A new meta-analysis published in Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation shows that transplant patients who reactivate with HHV-6 are 2-3 times more likely to develop acute GVHD.
HHV-6A IE1 antibodies associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Using a novel serological assay that can differentiate HHV-6A from HHV-6B, investigators found HHV-6A immediate early antibodies to be associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
2nd study implicates HHV-6A in unexplained infertility
In 2016, Italian investigators found HHV-6A in the uterus of 43% of women with unexplained infertility but 0% on controls. Now, a second study found localized HHV-6 infection in women with recurrent implantation failure, but not in controls.
Cross-sectional analysis of CD8 T cell immunity to HHV-6B identifies new targets for adoptive T cell therapy
German investigators conducted a broad scale analysis of CD8 T cell responses to HHV-6B, identifying novel epitopes with potential for immunotherapy or vaccines. The strongest responses were directed against an epitope from IE-2.
Cord blood transplant patients with early HHV-6 reactivation have a 4x greater relapse rate
Investigators at the University of Minnesota found that cord blood transplant cancer patients with HHV-6B reactivation in the first 28 days are almost 4x more likely to relapse in the first two years compared to those with no early reactivation.