Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: isolation of suppressed measles virus from lymph node biopsies.

Measles virus was isolated in mixed cultures of lymph node cells and HeLa cells. The agent was isolated by cocultivation from biopsy specimens of two of five patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The virus was identified by hemagglutination-inhibition, immunofluorescent, and neutralization tests. Biopsies from controls did not show evidence of measles virus.

Genital herpesvirus hominis type 2 infection: an experimental model in cebus monkeys.

Genital infection with herpesvirus hominis type 2 was established in ten female cebus monkeys. Clinical and laboratory findings in the cebus mimic closely those observed in humans, thus providing an experimental model which may be used in the study of the possible role of genital herpetic infection in cervical cancer and in perinatal and chronic neurological diseases.

Brain tumors in owl monkeys inoculated with a human polyomavirus (JC virus).

Owl monkeys were inoculated intracerebrally, subcutaneously, and intravenously with JC, BK, or SV40 virus. Two of four adult owl monkeys inoculated with JC virus, a human polyomavirus, developed brain tumors at 16 and 25 months after inoculation, respectively. A grade 3 to grade 4 astrocytoma (resembling a human glioblastoma multiforme) was found in the left cerebral hemisphere and brainstem of one monkey. The second monkey developed a malignant tumor in the left cerebral hemisphere containing both glial and neuronal cell types. Impression smears prepared from unfixed tissue of this tumor showed cells that contained polyomavirus T antigen. Virion antigens were not detected. Tumor cells cultured in vitro also contained T antigen but were negative for virion antigen. Infectious virus was not isolated from extracts of this tumor.

A preliminary report on investigation of oncogenic potential of herpes simplex virus type 2 in Cebus monkeys.

A total of 301 female and 133 male Cebus monkeys have been placed under study during a 3-year period. Females are inoculated intradermally into the cervix every 6 months; 225 receive virus and 76 receive control material. More than 50% of the animals were infected on primary inoculation, and a similar percentage was foundon the 1st reinoculation. Males are housed with females at 1:1 to 1:3 ratios. Eighteen % of the males exposed to virus-inoculated females have become infected. To date, a total of 55 pregnancies have produced 14 live births and 8 abortions. The remaining 33 animals are still pregnant. No neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 infections have been identified. Cytological changes of mild (atypia) to moderate (dysplasia) anaplasia have persisted for 12 to 32 months in 13 herpes simplex virus type 2-infected females. These animals received their 1st inoculation 14 to 50 months ago. Persistent anaplasia has not been found in control animals.

Lack of association between defective delinquents and antibody of herpesvirus hominis.

Several groups have reported a relation between herpesvirus hominis infection and certain psychiatric disorders. We have investigated herpes antibody levels in chronic criminal offenders who were diagnosed as defective delinquents and in criminals who were not defective delinquents. We found no difference in the frequency of titers of herpesvirus type I or type 2 antibody in these groups.

Multiple sclerosis: cellular and humoral immune responses to several viruses.

One hundred and eight multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 108 matched controls were studied for antibody levels and cellular immune responses to several viruses. There were significant increases in the mean titers of complement fixation (CF) or hemagglutination inhibition (HI), and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) tests for measles antibodies in MS patients; there was no increase in antibody titers to herpesviruses 1 and 2, or cytomegalovirus (CMV). The direct migration inhibition (DMI) tests showed no difference between MS patients and controls for measles, CMV, herpesviruses 1 and 2, or vaccinia virus antigens. Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (LMC) tests showed no difference between patients and controls, using cultures infected with measles and CMV viruses. In a study of stimulation or blocking of the LMC response by serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), no effect was found. Therefore, increased levels of measles antibody in serum were again demonstrated in MS patients, but there was no difference in these patients' cellular immunity to measles virus versus that of the controls, and there was no abnormality of cellular immunity against the other viruses tested.

Serologic studies of MS patients, controls, and patients with other neurologic diseases: antibodies to HTLV-I, II, III.

We have studied the frequency of human retrovirus antibody (HTLV-I, II, III) in the serum and CSF of patients with MS, matched controls, and patients with optic neuritis, idiopathic and postencephalitic Parkinson's disease, neuropathies, polymyositis, ALS, and postpoliomyelitis. Except for the postpoliomyelitis samples, all samples were collected prior to 1980. Contrary to a previous published report, no significant levels of antibody to HTLV-I, II, or III were found in the MS patients or controls. No retrovirus antibody was detected in patients with the other neurologic diseases.

Simultaneous radioimmunoassay for specific antibodies to members of the human herpesvirus group.

A method of described for the simultaneous radioimmunoassay (RIA) for antibody to members of the human herpesvirus group. The RIA is compared with some of the conventional serologic techniques used to quantitate antibody to these viruses (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus type 1 and varicella-zoster virus). Color-coded beads, each coated with the antigens of a different herpesvirus, were similtaneously placed in a well which contained a human serum to be assayed for antibody to each of these 4 viruses. The results of this test were compared with the results obtained when the serum was assayed for antibody to the 4 viruses in 4 separate tests. We conclude that the antigen-antibody reactions do not significantly interfere with each other when a serum is assayed for antibody to the 4 viruses simultaneously. A comparison of the RIA with conventional serologic techniques shows excellent correlation in the antibody titers obtained. Features of the solid-phase RIA allow significant savings of time, reagents and space, and thus make it feasible for the small laboratory to screen large numbers of sera for antibody to a variety of antigens.

Toxoplasmosis: maternal and pediatric findings in 23,000 pregnancies.

An analysis of the antibody titers to toxoplasmosis for 22,845 pregnant women in the Collaborative Perinatal Project was conducted in relation to clinical and laboratory findings in the mothers and children through 7 years of age. More than 900 observations were considered for each mother and child. The major findings were in the children and included a predicted doubling in the frequency of deafness among children born to women with antibody to toxoplasmosis, a predicted 60% increase in microcephaly, and a 30% increase in low IQ (less than 70) in association with the presence of high maternal antibody titer (256 to 512) to toxoplasma. A serologically defined high-risk group of mothers was identified on the basis of high indirect hemagglutination antibody levels or seroconversions and increased IgM toxoplasma antibody levels (indirect fluorescent antibody greater than or equal to 32, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay greater than or equal to 0.7). Of the 15 pregnancies in this group, two children had congenital toxoplasmosis and three were stillborn.

Perinatal 'TORCH' infections identified by serology: correlation with abnormalities in the children through 7 years of age.

A matched case-control methodology was used to assess the risk for a wide range of abnormalities in children associated with serological evidence for 'TORCH' infections in the mothers. Specimens were selected from the large bank of sera from the approximately 54,000 pregnant women who participated in the Collaborative Perinatal Project. There was no clear association between any of the antigens studied and any specific damage to the child. These 'negative' findings are consistent with the absence of frequent significant effects due to these agents in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Herpesvirus hominis type II infections in asymptomatic pregnant women.

This study was designed to determine the incidence of previous and current herpesvirus hominis Type II infections in asymptomatic pregnant women. Sera were obtained from 985 patients for detection of Type I and II herpesvirus hominis antibodies. In addition 770 cervical and 211 amniotic fluid cultures for herpesvirus hominis Type II were performed. Identification of previous herpesvirus hominis infection was determined in 352 patients (35.7%) by calculation of a Type II/I antibody index of 85 or greater. Type II herpesvirus hominis was isolated from five cervical cultures for a 0.65% antepartum incidence of infection. None of the amniotic fluid cultures demonstrated virus. The significance of these findings is discussed.