Current molecular epidemiology and human parvovirus B19 infection.
Viruses evolve gradually through replication. Therefore, isolates of a virus species can have different genome sequences, albeit slightly, if isolates are epidemiologically unrelated. The difference in virus genome involves difference in virus functions and clinical manifestations of virus infection. Molecular epidemiology of virus infection is a relatively new field directed at infection in humans but not other animals. Analyses are based on genomic differences between virus strains with advances in methodology related to DNA analyses, progress is being made. Classification of virus strains, tracing of transmission of a strain, analyses of outbreaks (including nosocomial infection), and analyses of pathogenesis of virus infection in humans (a natural host) are given attention in molecular epidemiological studies. Human parvovirus B19 is a common human pathogen associated with a wide variety of diseases, including erythema infectiosum, aplastic crisis, hydrops fetalis, and arthritis. B19 is not propagatable in conventional cell lines, hence, molecular cloning of B19 DNA directly from clinical materials has to be done. Events concerning B19 infection were analyzed based on the concept of molecular epidemiology and studies proved to be productive to better understand the pathogenesis of B19 infection.
Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Kenichi
K
Umene
Tadasu
T
Nunoue
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016731:Erythema Infectiosum; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny
D004279:DNA, Viral