The clinical significance of EBV DNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with or without EBV diseases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous virus that establishes a latent infection within the host and in some cases can lead to the development of EBV-associated lymphomas, lymphoproliferative disorders, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, solid tumors, and other diseases. We studied the clinical significance of detecting EBV DNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 2146 patients who had blood specimens sent to the Johns Hopkins Hospital clinical laboratory for viral quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay over a 5-year period. Within this largely immunocompromised and hospitalized cohort, 535 patients (25%) had EBV detected in plasma or PBMCs. When EBV was detected in the absence of an EBV(+)disease (n = 402), it was present only in PBMCs in 69% of cases. Immunocompromised patients were less likely to have EBV in plasma than in PBMCs in the absence of EBV(+)disease. In patients with active, systemic EBV(+)diseases (n = 105), EBV was detected in plasma in 99% of cases but detected in PBMCs in only 54%. Across a range of copy number cutoffs, EBV in plasma had higher specificity and sensitivity for EBV(+)disease as compared with EBV in PBMCs. EBV copy number in plasma distinguished untreated, EBV(+)lymphoma from EBV(+)lymphoma in remission and EBV(-)lymphoma, and also distinguished untreated, EBV(+)posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) from EBV(+)PTLD in remission and EBV(-)PTLD. EBV copy number quantification is a useful diagnostic marker across the spectrum of EBV(+)diseases, even among immunocompromised patients, with plasma specimens more indicative of EBV(+)disease than PBMCs.

Validation of the Labcorp Plasma Focus Test to Facilitate Precision Oncology Through Cell-Free DNA Genomic Profiling of Solid Tumors.

Genomic profiling is critical for precision oncology to guide treatment decisions. Liquid biopsy testing is a complementary approach to tissue testing, particularly when tissue is not readily available. The Labcorp Plasma Focus test is a circulating cell-free DNA genomic profiling test that identifies actionable variants in solid cancers, including non-small-cell lung, colorectal, melanoma, breast, esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric cancers. This study highlights the analytical validation of the test, including accuracy compared with orthogonal methods, as well as sensitivity, specificity, precision, reproducibility, and repeatability. Concordance with orthogonal methods showed percent positive agreement of 98.7%, 89.3%, and 96.2% for single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertion/deletions (indels), and copy number amplifications (CNAs), respectively, and 100.0% for translocations and microsatellite instability (MSI). Analytical sensitivity revealed a median limit of detection of 0.7% and 0.6% for SNVs and indels, 1.4-fold for CNAs, 0.5% variant allele frequency for translocations, and 0.6% for MSI. Specificity was >99% for SNVs/indels and 100% for CNAs, translocations, and MSI. Average positive agreement from precision, reproducibility, and repeatability experiments was 97.5% and 88.9% for SNVs/indels and CNAs, and 100% for translocations and MSI. Taken together, these data show that the Labcorp Plasma Focus test is a highly accurate, sensitive, and specific approach for cell-free DNA genomic profiling to supplement tissue testing and inform treatment decisions.

A structure-guided mutational analysis of simian virus 40 large T antigen: identification of surface residues required for viral replication and transformation.

Simian virus 40 large T antigen (TAg) transforms cells in culture and induces tumors in rodents. Genetic studies suggest that TAg interaction with the chaperone hsp70 and tumor suppressors pRb and p53 may not be sufficient to elicit complete transformation of cells. In order to identify additional cellular factors important for transformation, we designed mutations on the solvent-exposed surface of TAg. We hypothesized that surface residues would interact directly with cellular targets and that the mutation of these residues might disrupt this interaction without perturbing TAg's global structure. Using structural data, we identified 61 amino acids on the surface of TAg. Each surface amino acid was changed to an alanine. Furthermore, five patches containing clusters of charged amino acids on the surface of TAg were identified. Within these patches, we selectively mutated three to four charged amino acids and thus generated five mutants (patch mutants 1 to 5). We observed that while patch mutants 3 and 4 induced foci in REF52 cells, patch mutants 1 and 2 were deficient in focus formation. We determined that the patch 1 mutant is defective in p53 binding, thus explaining its defect in transformation. The patch 2 mutant can interact with the Rb family members and p53 like wild-type TAg but is unable to transform cells, suggesting that it is defective for action on an unknown cellular target essential for transformation. Our results suggest that the histone acetyltransferase CBP/p300 is one of the potential targets affected by the mutations in patch 2.

Comparison of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Participants Enrolled in a Multinational Clinical Trial: HPTN 052.

OBJECTIVE: Data comparing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in HIV-infected [HIV(+)], and HIV-uninfected [HIV(-)] individuals recruited into the same study are limited. HBV infection status and chronic hepatitis B (cHB) were characterized in a multinational clinical trial: HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN 052). METHOD: HBV infection status at enrollment was compared between HIV(+) (N = 1241) and HIV(-) (N = 1232) from 7 HBV-endemic countries. Hepatitis B e antigen and plasma HBV DNA were determined in cHB. Median CD4, median plasma HIV RNA, and prevalence of transaminase elevation were compared in HIV(+) with and without cHB. Significance was assessed with χ, Fisher exact, and median tests. RESULTS: Among all participants, 33.6% had HBV exposure without cHB (8.9% isolated HBV core antibody, "HBcAb"; 24.7% HBcAb and anti-HB surface antibody positive, "recovered"), 4.3% had cHB, 8.9% were vaccinated, and 53.5% were uninfected. Data were similar among HIV(+) and HIV(-) except for isolated HBcAb, which was more prevalent in HIV(+) than HIV(-) [10.1% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.046]. Median HBV DNA trended higher in HIV(+) than in HIV(-). In HIV(+) with cHB versus those without cHB, transaminase elevations were more prevalent (alanine aminotransferase ≤ grade 2, 12% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.037; aspartate aminotransferase ≤ grade 2, 26% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001), CD4 trended lower, and HIV RNA was similar. CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection status did not differ by HIV infection status. HIV co-infection was associated with isolated HBcAb and a trend of increased HBV DNA. In HIV, cHB was associated with mild transaminase elevations and a trend toward lower CD4.

The α2 helix in the DNA ligase IV BRCT-1 domain is required for targeted degradation of ligase IV during adenovirus infection.

In adenovirus E4 mutant infections, viral DNAs form concatemers through a process that requires host Non-homologous End Joining (NHEJ) proteins including DNA Ligase IV (LigIV). Adenovirus proteins E4 34k and E1b 55k form the substrate-selection component of an E3 ubiquitin ligase and prevent concatenation by targeting LigIV for proteasomal degradation. The mechanisms and sites involved in targeting this and other E3 ligase substrates generally are poorly-understood. Through genetic analysis, we identified the α2 helix of one LigIV BRCT domain (BRCT-1) as essential for adenovirus-mediated degradation. Replacement of the BRCT domain of DNA ligase III (LigIII), which is resistant to degradation, with LigIV BRCT-1 does not promote degradation. A humanized mouse LigIV that possesses a BRCT-1 α2 helix identical to the human protein, like its parent, is also resistant to adenovirus-mediated degradation. Thus, both the BRCT-1 α2 helix and an element outside BRCT-1 are required for adenovirus-mediated degradation of LigIV.

The adenovirus E4 11 k protein binds and relocalizes the cytoplasmic P-body component Ddx6 to aggresomes.

The adenovirus E4 11 k protein, product of E4 ORF3, is required in infection for processes including normal accumulation of viral late mRNAs. 11 k restructures both the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected cells by relocalizing specific host cell target proteins, most strikingly components of nuclear PML oncogenic domains. It is likely that in many cases relocalization inactivates target proteins to produce 11 k's effects, although the mechanism and targets for stimulation of late mRNA accumulation is unknown. We have identified a new set of proteins relocalized by 11 k: at least five protein components of cytoplasmic mRNA processing bodies (p-bodies) are found in 11 k-induced cytoplasmic aggresomes, sites where proteins are inactivated or destroyed. One of these p-body proteins, RNA helicase Ddx6, binds 11 k, suggesting a mechanism for relocalization. Because p-bodies are sites for mRNA degradation, their modification by 11 k may provide an explanation for the role of 11 in viral late mRNA accumulation.