Reactivation of latent viruses in individuals receiving rituximab for new onset type 1 diabetes.

Background: Rituximab has been successfully used as an experimental therapy in different autoimmune diseases. Recently, a double-blind placebo-controlled phase-2 study in early onset type 1 diabetes showed that rituximab delayed progression of the disease. However, like with any immunosuppressive therapy, there is a concern of opportunistic viral reactivations with the use of rituximab, including herpes and polyomaviruses.

Lytic and latent EBV gene expression in transplant recipients with and without post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which has significant morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. To devise prophylactic measures, we need predictors of PTLD and a better understanding of the physiopathogenesis of the disease.

Objectives: To identify a molecular pattern of EBV gene products in blood that is specific to PTLD and can be used for the diagnosis of this disease.

Human metapneumovirus.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a common pathogen that can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in children, elderly adults, and immunocompromised hosts. Since its initial identification in 2001, hMPV has been isolated from individuals with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in virtually every continent. Serological studies indicate that it has caused human infection since 1958 or earlier.

Two-way Bayesian hierarchical phylogenetic models: An application to the co-evolution of gp120 and gp41 during and after enfuvirtide treatment.

Enfuvirtide (ENF) is a fusion inhibitor that prevents the entry of HIV virions into target cells. Studying the characteristics of viral evolution during treatment and after a treatment interruption can lend insight into the mechanisms of viral evolution and fitness. Although interruption of anti-HIV therapy often results in rapid emergence of an archived "wild-type" virus population, previous work from our group indicates that when only ENF is interrupted, viral gp41 continues to evolve forward and resistance mutations are lost due to back-mutation and remodeling of the envelope protein.

Enfuvirtide cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics and potential use in defining CSF HIV-1 origin.

Background: Enfuvirtide is a potent inhibitor of systemic HIV-1 replication, but its penetration into the human central nervous system (CNS) has not been analysed. Here, we define cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enfuvirtide pharmacokinetics and present a case illustrating the use of enfuvirtide as a probe to trace the origins of CSF HIV-1 quasispecies.

Methods: Enfuvirtide CSF pharmacokinetics were assessed in 18 CSF and plasma sample pairs from four HIV-1-infected individuals.