title: Complex intracellular inclusions in the brain of a child with a stealth virus encephalopathy.
abstract: Unusual pigmented intracellular inclusions are commonly seen in cultures obtained from patients infected with stealth viruses. Some of these structures may potentially provide a source of chemical energy for the infected cells to help compensate for the apparent damage to the cells' mitochondria. They have accordingly been termed alternative cellular energy pigments (ACE pigments). In keeping with this suggestion, the present paper illustrates the diversity of extraneous materials present in vacuolated, mitochondria-damaged cells seen in the brain biopsy of a child with a stealth-virus-associated encephalopathy. Many of the intracellular inclusions show highly ordered structuring, while others have a more amorphous appearance. These structures may provide a target for energy-based therapeutic intervention in stealth-virus-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Infectious Diseases, Rosemead, CA 91770, USA. wjohnmartin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000821:virology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002648:Child; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010860:Pigments, Biological
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D015774:Ganciclovir