title: The incidence of HIV-1 and HHV-6 in corneal buttons.
abstract: Twenty pairs of corneas from asymptomatic carriers of HIV-1 and seven pairs from AIDS patients were analyzed for the presence of HIV-1 and HHV-6 antigens, viral transcripts, DNA sequences, and intact and infectious particles. Although serum from all donors was positive for both HIV-1 and HHV-6 antibody by Western blot analysis, only one cornea from an asymptomatic carrier of HIV-1 was positive for HIV-1 and HHV-6. The cornea was positive when tested by tissue culture, PCR, in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy. There was no tear film contamination. These results suggest that HIV-1 and HHV-6 may be capable of invading corneal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Qavi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: SeGall
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hollinger
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies