title: Antibodies Against Mimotopes of Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen, the Oncoprotein, in Serum Samples From Elderly Healthy Subjects.
abstract: Simian Virus 40 (SV40), a monkey polyomavirus, was administered to human populations by early anti-poliomylitis vaccines contaminated by this small DNA tumor virus. Data on SV40 infection in humans remain controversial. Elderly subjects represent an interesting cohort to investigate, because they were not immunized with SV40-contaminated vaccines. Taking advantage of the Italian population, the second oldest worldwide, elderly subjects (n = 237) up to 100 years old were enrolled in this study. Their sera were analyzed, by ELISA tests with synthetic peptides mimicking the viral epitopes, for IgG antibodies reacting with SV40 large Tumor antigen (Tag), the viral oncoprotein. An overall seroprevalence of 22% was revealed in subjects aged 66-100 years, ranging from 19% in individuals 66-74 years old, to 24% in subjects 82-100 years old, with a lower SV40 titer detected in the oldest group. Our data show that: (i) SV40 infection is not frequent in old individuals; (ii) the infection rate increases in elderly with the age; (iii) the antibody titer of SV40 Tag decreases with the age. In conclusion, SV40 infection seems to spread in old subjects independently from SV40-contaminated vaccines. This study seems to confirm that SV40 is also a human virus. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 176-181, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Analysis, University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: General Headquarter, San Marino City Hospital, Republic of San Marino.
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Casali
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pietrobon
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bononi
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puozzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliapietra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Francesco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Nocini
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. tgm@unife.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognon
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. mrf@unife.it.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000276:immunology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D015513:Oncogene Proteins