Risk Factors for Ebola Virus Persistence in Semen of Survivors in Liberia.

BACKGROUND: Long-term persistence of Ebola virus (EBOV) in immunologically privileged sites has been implicated in recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This study was designed to understand how the acute course of EVD, convalescence, and host immune and genetic factors may play a role in prolonged viral persistence in semen. METHODS: A cohort of 131 male EVD survivors in Liberia were enrolled in a case-case study. "Early clearers" were defined as those with 2 consecutive negative EBOV semen test results by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) ≥2 weeks apart within 1 year after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit or acute EVD. "Late clearers" had detectable EBOV RNA by rRT-PCR >1 year after discharge from the Ebola treatment unit or acute EVD. Retrospective histories of their EVD clinical course were collected by questionnaire, followed by complete physical examinations and blood work. RESULTS: Compared with early clearers, late clearers were older (median, 42.5 years; P < .001) and experienced fewer severe clinical symptoms (median 2, P = .006). Late clearers had more lens opacifications (odds ratio, 3.9 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-13.3]; P = .03), after accounting for age, higher total serum immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) titers (P = .005), and increased expression of the HLA-C*03:04 allele (0.14 [.02-.70]; P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Older age, decreased illness severity, elevated total serum IgG3 and HLA-C*03:04 allele expression may be risk factors for the persistence of EBOV in the semen of EVD survivors. EBOV persistence in semen may also be associated with its persistence in other immunologically protected sites, such as the eye.

Elastic property of sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait red blood cells.

SIGNIFICANCE: We introduce a model for better calibration of the trapping force using an equal but oppositely directed drag force acting on a trapped red blood cell (RBC). We demonstrate this approach by studying RBCs' elastic properties from deidentified sickle cell anemia (SCA) and sickle cell trait (SCT) blood samples. AIM: A laser trapping (LT) force was formulated and analytically calculated in a cylindrical model. Using this trapping force relative percent difference, the maximum (longitudinal) and minimum (transverse) radius rate and stiffness were used to study the elasticity. APPROACH: The elastic property of SCA and SCT RBCs was analyzed using LT technique with computer controlled piezo-driven stage, in order to trap and stretch the RBCs. RESULTS: For all parameters, the results show that the SCT RBC samples have higher elastic property than the SCA RBCs. The higher rigidity in the SCA cell may be due to the lipid composition of the membrane, which was affected by the cholesterol concentration. CONCLUSIONS: By developing a theoretical model for different trapping forces, we have also studied the elasticity of RBCs in SCT (with hemoglobin type HbAS) and in SCA (with hemoglobin type HbSS). The results for the quantities describing the elasticity of the cells consistently showed that the RBCs in the SCT display lower rigidity and higher deformability than the RBCs with SCA.

Laser trap ionization for identification of human erythrocytes with variable hemoglobin quantitation.

An approach to an established technique that is potentially applicable for a more comprehensive understanding of the electrical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) is presented. Using a high-intensity gradient laser trap, RBCs can be singly trapped and consequentially ionized. The subsequent dynamics of the ionized cell allows one to calculate the charge developed and the ionization energy (IE) through a Newtonian-based analysis. RBCs with two different hemoglobin (Hb) types were ionized. The first sample was identified as carrying Hb HbAA (normal Hb) and the second one was identified as carrying HbAC (HbC trait). By analyzing the charge developed on each cell and several other related factors, we were able to discern a difference between the main Hb types contained within the individual RBC, independent of cell size. A relationship between the charge developed and the IE of the cell was also established based on the electrical properties of RBCs. Thus, we present this laser trapping technique as a study of the electrical properties of RBCs and as possible biomedical tool to be used for the differentiation of Hb types.

Direct laser trapping for measuring the behavior of transfused erythrocytes in a sickle cell anemia patient.

Using a laser trap, we have studied the properties of erythrocytes from a sickle cell anemia patient (SCA) after receiving an intravenous blood transfusion, and a normal adult individual carrying normal adult hemoglobin. The hemoglobin type and quantitation assessment was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We conducted an analysis of the size distributions of the cells. By targeting those erythrocytes in the overlapping regions of size distributions, we have investigated their properties when the cells are trapped and released. The efficacy of the transfusion treatment is also studied by comparing the relative changes in deformation and the relaxation-time of the cells in the two samples.