Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is bound to plasma lipoproteins and circulates as an infectious lipoviral particle (LVP). Experimental evidence indicates that LVPs have decreased susceptibility to antibody-mediated neutralisation and higher infectivity. This study tested the hypothesis that LVPs are required to establish persistent infection, and conversely, low levels of LVP in recent HCV infection increase the probability of spontaneous HCV clearance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) associates with lipoproteins to form "lipoviral particles" (LVPs) that can facilitate viral entry into hepatocytes. Initial attachment occurs via heparan sulphate proteoglycans and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR); CD81 then mediates a post-attachment event. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) enhances the degradation of the LDLR and modulates liver CD81 levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgound: Due to difficulties of culturing Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) much of the current understanding of HMPV replication can be inferred from other closely related viruses. The slow rates of virus replication prevent many biochemical analyses of HMPV particles. In this study imaging was used to examine the process of HMPV morphogenesis in individually infected LLC-MK2 cells, and to better characterise the sites of HMPV assembly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPassively administered antibodies to conserved epitopes on the attachment (G) glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) have potential in the immunoprophylaxis of human infections. This study set out to generate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing all prevalent lineages of HRSV and capable of immunoprophylaxis in mice. Two murine MAbs of broad specificity for prevalent virus strains were generated by immunization of mice with hRSV of sub-group A followed by selection of hybridomas on recombinant G glycoprotein from a sub-group B virus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) utilises cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism for replication and infectivity. Statins and omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to have antiviral properties in vitro. This open label pilot study evaluated the efficacy of fluvastatin (Lescol(®) 40-80 mg) and n-3 PUFA (Omacor(®) 1 g and 2-4 g) on HCV-RNA and lipoviral particles (LVP) in difficult to treat prior non-responders.
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