Interferon gamma release assay has potential in the prediction of chronic graft-versus-host disease in recipients of myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.

Background: The rate of immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) plays the principal role in the development of serious post-transplant complications. However, the post-transplantation course has a significant impact on shaping the immune system of the recipient, per se, thus representing risk factors for subsequent unfavorable outcomes. The predictive power of an interferon gamma (IFNγ) release assay (IGRA) on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or hematological relapse in recipients of allo-HSCT treated with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide and the impact of these complications on the restoration of cellular immune responsiveness was evaluated.

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in recipients of hematopoietic stem cells in the Omicron period.

Aim: We aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic courses, and to identify predictors of asymptomatic or symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients within seven months after allo-HSCT (allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) in the Omicron period.

Methods: Prevalence of the past SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined in patients within seven months after allo-HSCT in the Omicron period using the cellular and humoral immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (NCP).

Results: Positive markers of past infection were identified in 45.

Specific immune response to mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 in patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation for myeloid malignancy was altered by immunosuppressive therapy.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients are at high risk of complications associated with COVID-19 infection due to dysfunction of their immune system. Vaccination can protect from the adverse consequences of COVID-19. However, studies on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in HSCT recipients with insufficient post-HSCT immune reconstitution are still scarce.

Non-Mutated Nucleophosmin 1 Is Recognized by the CD8+ T Lymphocytes of an AML Patient after the Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from an HLA-Haploidentical Donor.

Nucleophosmin (NPM1, B23) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein expressed in all tissues. The protein is mainly localized in nucleoli. In hematological malignancies, belongs to commonly altered genes.

Antigenic competition in the generation of multi-virus-specific cell lines for immunotherapy of human cytomegalovirus, polyomavirus BK, Epstein-Barr virus and adenovirus infection in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Adoptive transfer of multivirus-specific T cell lines (MVST) is an advanced tool for immunotherapy of virus infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Their preparation includes activation of donor virus-specific T cells by the mixture of oligopeptides derived from immunodominant antigens of several most harmful viruses, i.e.

Frequent Recurrences of Genital Herpes Are Associated with Enhanced Systemic HSV-Specific T Cell Response.

Objectives: Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is controlled by HSV-specific T cells in the genital tract, and the role of systemic T cell responses is not fully understood. Thus, we analysed T cell responses in patients with recurrent genital herpes (GH).

Methods: T cell responses to HSV-1 and HSV-2 native antigens and the expression of HLA-DR and CD38 molecules on circulating CD8+ T cells were analysed in adults with high frequency of GH recurrences (19 patients) and low frequency of GH recurrences (7 patients) and 12 HSV-2 seronegative healthy controls.

Antiviral adoptive immunotherapy using antigen-specific T cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Adoptive immunotherapy using antiviral T cells (AVT) obtained from healthy donors is one of the advanced approaches considered as a breakthrough in the treatment of refractory and severe viral infections that often accompany primary immunodeficiencies or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. The review describes nearly 30 years of the development of AVT to human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human adenovirus, and human polyomavirus BK. The review introduces the basic methodological approaches to their production and summarizes the results from clinical studies that tested the safety and efficiency of the procedures used.

Prevalence of antibodies against BKPyV subtype I and IV in kidney transplant recipients and in the general Czech population.

Active infection with BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) may cause serious complications in transplantation settings. Recently, the level of BKPyV IgG seroreactivity in graft donors has been shown to predict viremia and BKPyV-associated nephropathy in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. Pretransplantation testing of the donor and recipient BKPyV serostatus could, therefore, identify patients at high risk.

Presence of herpesvirus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tick-borne encephalitis and enteroviral meningoencephalitis.

Reactivation of HHVs in the CNS due to inflammation has not been well described yet. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of HHV DNA detection in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of immunocompetent patients with meningoencephalitis of other than HHV origin. The secondary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of herpesvirus co-infection on the clinical course and patient outcome.

Genetic variability of cytomegalovirus glycoprotein O in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Unlabelled: Genetic variation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) strains can correlate with their pathogenicity for immunocompromised patients. Glycoprotein O (gO), together with glycoprotein L and glycoprotein H, mediate the fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane and promotes virus penetration, envelopment, and release. The variability of gO might play a role in CMV cell tropism.

[Prevalence of glycoprotein B (gB) genotypes in the patients with high risk of symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection].

Objectives: Based on genetic variability of the dominant envelope glycoprotein (gB), human cytomegalovirus is classified into four major genotypes. The aims were to determine the prevalence of particular gB genotypes in Czech CMV-infected patients and to compare three groups of the patients with high risk of symptomatic CMV infection, i.e.

[Genotyping of viral glycoprotein B (gB) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with active cytomegalovirus infection: analysis of the impact of gB genotypes on the patients' outcome].

Aim Of The Study: Genetic variation of CMV strains may correlate with their pathogenicity for immunocompromised patients. On the basis of sequence variation in the UL55 gene encoding the most abundant viral envelope glycoprotein gB, CMV can be classified into four major gB genotypes. The aim of the study was the analysis of the distribution of gB genotypes in a cohort of haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and of the correlation of genetic polymorphisms with clinical outcomes and manifestation of CMV infection.

[Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of genital herpes in women].

Presented are draft guidelines for genital herpes (GH) in women. The text is concerned with the incidence, clinical picture, diagnosis, prevention, prophylaxis and therapy of genital HSV infection. The aim is to provide valuable information on the approach to both initial and relapsing GH, with attention being paid to risk factors such as immunosuppression or pregnancy.

[Recurrent genital herpes].

In recent years, the rate of genital infections caused by Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) has increased. Following primary infection with HSV-2, recurrent genital herpes (GH) often develops or asymptomatic virus shedding occurs. HSV-1-induced GH recurrencies are significantly less frequent.

Markers of Chlamydia pneumoniae and human cytomegalovirus infection in patients with chronic peripheral vascular disease and their relation to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and changes in lipid metabolism.

Our aim was to detect markers of Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in patients with peripheral vascular occlusive disease and to follow markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and lipid metabolism alteration in patients with active infection. CPN genome was detected in 9 (47.4 %) patients by at least one PCR method.

[A simultaneous detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis DNA by real-time PCR].

Study Objective: Design and validation of a real-time PCR assay for quantitative detection of C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis in clinical specimens.

[Detection of active varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in patients with neurological complications].

Objectives: When introduced into routine virological diagnosis of nervous system infections, PCR detection of viral DNA revealed the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at much higher rates than expected. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of VZV DNA detection in CSF of patients with neurological symptoms in correlation with their VZV-specific serological findings and clinical symptoms.

Material And Methods: A total of 438 patients followed up in the neurology departments of the Motol and Královské Vinohrady University Hospitals and the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Bulovka University Hospital were screened for the presence of VZV-specific antibodies in serum and intrathecal antibodies in CSF.

Prevalence of active infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and human cytomegalovirus in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

By promoting the inflammatory process in the arterial wall, Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) participate in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at high risk of CVD, we studied markers of CMV and CPN infection in DM patients as possible predictors of cardiovascular complications. The seroprevalence rates of CMV in 44 DM patients and matched controls were 74 and 88%, respectively.

Immunological profiles of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. I. State before the start of treatment.

In view of the increasing interest in the immunotherapy of CML it seems highly desirable to broaden the present knowledge on the immune reactivity of CML patients. A group of 24 patients and 24 healthy controls were studied for the total of 15 immunological parameters, including the prevalence of antibodies against human herpesviruses and papillomaviruses. To clearly discriminate between changes associated with the disease and those induced by the therapy, all patients were enrolled prior to the start of any anti-leukaemic therapy.

Comparison of quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with LightCycler-based polymerase chain reaction for measuring cytomegalovirus DNA in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Development of highly sensitive quantitative assays for cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA detection is crucial for identification of immunodeficient patients at high risk of CMV disease. We designed 2 internally controlled competitive quantitative assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, using amplification of the same segment of the CMV genome. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity, specificity, and laboratory performance characteristics of these assays.

Probable neuroimmunological link between Toxoplasma and cytomegalovirus infections and personality changes in the human host.

Background: Recently, a negative association between Toxoplasma-infection and novelty seeking was reported. The authors suggested that changes of personality trait were caused by manipulation activity of the parasite, aimed at increasing the probability of transmission of the parasite from an intermediate to a definitive host. They also suggested that low novelty seeking indicated an increased level of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain of infected subjects, a phenomenon already observed in experimentally infected rodents.

[Signs of active infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in patients with coronary heart disease].

Background: Possible relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN) infection and atherosclerosis has been documented in many seroepidemiological, histological and biological studies. The objectives of the present study were to find out whether serological signs of active CPN infection in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are associated with the presence of bacterial DNA in peripheral blood and to correlate with clinical symptoms and to study the dynamics of the markers of CPN infection within a six-month follow-up.

Methods And Results: Seventy-one patients with acute CHD were enrolled in the study.

[A comparison of the detection of IgM antibodies against the viral capsid antigen (VCA) of EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) in various groups of patients, using indirect immunofluorescence, indirect ELISA and reverse ELISA. Study of the diagnostic efficacy of the anti-VCA EBV IgM ELISA-VIDITEST kit].

Objectives: To test diagnostic efficiency of a novel method for detection of IgM antibodies to VCA EBV. To compare sensitivity and specificity of detection of IgM antibodies to VCA EBV from patients at various stages of EBV infection by various serological methods.

Material And Methods: IgM antibodies to VCA EBV were detected using IgM ELISA Viditest anti-VCA EBV IgM assay (Vidia, Ltd.