Publications by authors named "Hanna Liimatainen"
Article Synopsis
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare neurological disorder caused by the reactivation of the JC polyomavirus (JCPyV).
- The study focused on analyzing gene expression and viral changes in PML-affected brain tissue, highlighting how the virus infects specific brain cells like astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
- Findings indicated significant changes in human genes linked to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a strong immune response in the brains of PML patients.
Background: JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) persists asymptomatic in more than half of the human population. Immunocompromising conditions may cause reactivation and acquisition of neurotropic rearrangements in the viral genome, especially in the non-coding control region (NCCR). Such rearranged JCPyV strains are strongly associated with the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProgressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurological condition caused by reactivation of JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) in immunosuppression. Asymptomatic JCPyV persists in peripheral tissues. Upon reactivation, neurotropic rearrangements may emerge, and the virus gains access to the brain.
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- SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, was first detected in Finland in January 2020 and has since caused fewer infections compared to other European countries.
- A study analyzed the virus's lineage origins and dynamics in Finland, revealing 42 independent introductions in spring 2020, primarily from Italy, Austria, and Spain.
- Findings indicated that one introduction from Spain caused about a third of the cases in Finland during that period, highlighting the impact of travel on virus spread and the importance of early public health measures.
Article Synopsis
- - The Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.1.1 were first introduced to Finland in early December 2021.
- - Within just three weeks, Omicron became the dominant variant in the capital region, surpassing Delta.
- - Genetic analysis revealed a significant community transmission of a large cluster of the BA.1.1 variant.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Alpha and Beta variants became dominant in Finland in spring 2021 but had diminished by summer. We used phylogenetic clustering to identify sources of spreading. We found that outbreaks were mostly seeded by a few introductions, highlighting the importance of surveillance and prevention policies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: BKPyV is associated with polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), a major cause of graft rejection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Mutations occur in the transcriptional control region (TCR) of BKPyV, but whether they are required for the development of PVAN is not completely understood. To this end, we characterized BKPyV TCRs from KTRs to assess whether TCR mutations are associated with PVAN.
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