Quantitation of human cytomegalovirus in recipients of solid organ transplants by real-time quantitative PCR and pp65 antigenemia.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections and anti-HCMV treatment are usually monitored by measuring pp65 antigenemia. This method is time-consuming, labour-intensive and requires skilled operators. We have compared results obtained using real-time Light Cycler quantitative PCR (QPCR) and the pp65 antigen assay on serial samples collected from recipients of solid organ transplants.

Intermittent detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in semen from men with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HCV.

HCV is usually transmitted via the blood, but HCV RNA has been detected recently in seminal fluid. This study was done to study HCV seminal shedding and factors that could influence the presence of HCV in the seminal fluid of men coinfected with HCV and HIV-1. HCV and HIV-1 genomes were assayed in multiple paired blood and semen samples obtained from 35 men enrolled in an assisted medical procreation protocol.

Intermittent human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV-1) shedding in semen and efficiency of sperm processing despite high seminal HIV-1 RNA levels.

To study seminal excretion of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during 4 years of follow-up in an HIV-1-infected patient, the relationship between high viral excretion and inflammatory status of semen, and the efficiency of sperm processing methods in obtaining spermatozoa with undetectable RNA and proviral DNA levels. Case report. University hospital and research group on human fertility.

Evolution of total and integrated HIV-1 DNA and change in DNA sequences in patients with sustained plasma virus suppression.

Blood samples from patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <20 copies/ml for more than 2 years were studied. Significant decreases in total and integrated HIV-1 DNA were observed during the first 15 months of suppressive therapy before the concentrations became stable. Clonal analysis of HIV-1 pol demonstrated that the proportions of resistance mutations in DNA sequences after 2 years were lower than those in baseline DNA and RNA sequences.

Virological and immunological effects of salvage therapy following treatment interruption and a shift in HIV-1 resistance genotype.

The circulating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) population of patients in whom many prior therapy regimens have failed often undergo a shift from a drug-resistant virus to a wild-type virus following interruption of treatment. This study analyses the virological and immunological effects of salvage therapy following treatment interruption and a shift from a drug-resistance genotype. Twenty-one HIV-1 infected patients who had genotype reversion by population-based sequencing after 3 months of treatment interruption were given a new salvage regimen consisting of 3-5 drugs selected according to their treatment history.

Genetic heterogeneity of the envelope 2 gene and eradication of hepatitis C virus after a second course of interferon-alpha.

The heterogeneity of the envelope 2 (E2) gene of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was involved in the sensitivity of HCV to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). To assess the factors leading to virus eradication by IFN-alpha, patients whose first treatment by IFN-alpha failed and who had virus eradication after a second treatment were studied. These patients were paired with subjects in whom both treatments failed.

Evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 populations after resumption of therapy following treatment interruption and shift in resistance genotype.

Conventional genotyping of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 often reveals a shift from a drug-resistant genotype to a wild-type genotype after treatment interruption. A real-time polymerase chain reaction-based technique was used to detect minority resistant populations in 13 patients who showed genotype reversion after interruption of treatment for 3 months. Sixty-two percent of patients in whom the V82A and L90M protease mutations were no longer detectable by conventional genotyping still harbored minority resistant variants, in proportions ranging from 0.

Screening of blood from potential organ and cornea donors for viruses.

Prospective nucleic acid tests were carried out for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using the COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 and HCV tests (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France) on potential organ (n=113) and cornea (n=368) donors in France to evaluate their performance and suitability for use as a complement to routine serological tests. Blood samples were collected from organ donors with preserved cardiac function after verification of cerebral death. Blood samples were collected from cornea donors post-mortem within 48 hr after death.