Isolation of a new human herpesvirus producing a lytic infection of helper (CD4) T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures--another cause of acquired immunodeficiency?
A new human helper (CD4) T-lymphotropic herpesvirus (HTLHV) was first isolated in February 1985 from the cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and subsequently from the PBL of 1 patient with hairy cell leukaemia and 2 patients with lymphoproliferative disease associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection. The viruses could be serially subcultured in umbilical cord PBL cultures in which they infected helper (CD4) T-lymphocytes producing multinucleate giant cells with intranuclear inclusions followed by cell lysis. Electron microscopy of infected cultures revealed that the isolates were herpesviruses. Specific DNA probing showed that the 4 isolates were related to one another but were distinct from cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpesvirus hominis types 1 and 2, and varicella-zoster virus. HTLHV lyses the same target cell as human immunodeficiency virus in PBL cultures suggesting that it may have a similar potential to cause acquired immune deficiency. The development of an unequivocally diagnostic serological test is a priority, so that the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HTLHV infection can be studied.
Becker
W B
WB
Department of Medical Virology, University of Stellenbosch Parowvallei, CP.
Engelbrecht
S
S
Becker
M L
ML
Piek
C
C
Robson
B A
BA
Wood
L
L
Jacobs
P
P
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000382:microbiology*
D015342:DNA Probes