Lack of correlation between human herpesvirus-6 infection and the course of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are both tropic for CD4+ lymphocytes. To determine whether HHV-6 infection affects the susceptibility to or the course of HIV infection, HHV-6 titers were measured by an anticomplement immunofluorescence assay in serum of three groups of homosexual or bisexual men: (1) those with AIDS (n = 78), (2) those with HIV-associated lymphadenopathy (LAS; n = 81), and (3) those who were HIV-seronegative (n = 55). Early and late serum samples were available for 45 men with LAS (median interval 49 months).

Growth properties of human herpesvirus-6 strain Z29.

Experiments performed to optimize the growth conditions of HHV-6(Z29) revealed that the virus grows best in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated umbilical cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) cultured in media containing 32 units/ml interleukin-2 and 0.01 mg/ml hydrocortisone. The titer of maternal antibody in the plasma of the cord blood cells does not affect the ability of the cells to support virus growth.

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in clinical infections: differences observed by electron microscopy.

Microtubule-like structures have been observed ultrastructurally in BHK-21/4 cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but not in cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). BHK-21/4 cells were infected with two known strains of HSV-2 and one known strain of HSV-1, as well as with vesicular fluid from 50 clinical isolates (47 perioral, two penile, and one from the leg) in an examination of the accuracy of electron microscopy for differentiation between clinical isolates of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Cells infected with the known strains of HSV-2 or with material from the genital or leg lesions demonstrated microtubule-like structures.

Nosocomial and maternally acquired herpesvirus hominis infections. A report of four fatal cases in neonates.

Four fatal cases of neonatal herpes simplex infection occurred during a two-month period in the perinatal intensive care unit of a hospital. Virus isolation or serologic studies, or both, implicated herpesvirus hominis type 2 in all four cases. Three of the infants developed symptoms in the first week of life and were probably infected in utero or at delivery.