title: Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot assay to assess varicella-zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity following umbilical cord blood transplantation.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). For this reason, antiherpetic prophylaxis is administrated systematically to pediatric UCBT recipients to prevent complications associated with VZV infection, but there is no strong, evidence based consensus that defines its optimal duration. Because T cell mediated immunity is responsible for the control of VZV infection, assessing the reconstitution of VZV specific T cell responses following UCBT could provide indications as to whether prophylaxis should be maintained or can be discontinued. To this end, a VZV specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay was developed to characterize IFN-γ production by T lymphocytes in response to in vitro stimulation with irradiated live attenuated VZV vaccine. This assay provides a rapid, reproducible and sensitive measurement of VZV specific cell mediated immunity suitable for monitoring the reconstitution of VZV specific immunity in a clinical setting and assessing immune responsiveness to VZV antigens.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunopathologie Virale, Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Insaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salem Fourati
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunopathologie Virale, Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Anne-Julie
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Grenier
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunopathologie Virale, Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Élyse
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Jolette
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunopathologie Virale, Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merindol
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Service, CHU Sainte-Justine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal; Department of Paediatrics, Université de Montréal.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ovetchkine
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunopathologie Virale, Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal; Department of Paediatrics, Université de Montréal; hugo.soudeyns@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soudeyns
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D007371:Interferon-gamma