Detection of HHV-6B in post-mortem central nervous system tissue of a post-bone marrow transplant recipient: a multi-virus array analysis

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology Vol. 37; pp. S57 - S62
• Main Authors: Yao, Karen, Akyani, Nahid, Donati, Donatella, Sengamalay, Naomi, Fotheringham, Julie, Ghedin, Elodie, Bishop, Michael, Barrett, John, Kashanchi, Fatah, Jacobson, Steven
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Brain - virology; Brain Diseases - virology; Central nervous system; DNA, Viral - analysis; DNA, Viral - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpesvirus 6, Human - classification; Herpesvirus 6, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 6, Human - isolation & purification; HHV-6; Human herpesvirus 6B; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Multi-virus array; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Post-bone marrow transplant; RNA, Viral - biosynthesis; RNA, Viral - genetics; Roseolovirus Infections - virology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Viral diseases; Virology; Post-bone marrow transplant; Multi-virus array; HHV-6; Central nervous system; Virus; Microbiology; Bone marrow; Recipient; Detection; Central nervous system: Post-bone marrow transplant; Virology
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/S1386-6532(06)70013-0

HHV-6 has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders. Recent evidence has suggested high incidence of HHV-6 infection in patients (46%) undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT). To investigate whether HHV-6 plays a role in the development of fatal encephalopathy in an allogeneic post-BMT patient using an unbiased approach. Detection of HHV-6 viral DNA sequence and RNA expression were demonstrated in fresh frozen post-mortem autopsy material derived from the insular cortex using a multi-virus array platform. In addition, PCR analysis by real-time quantitative TaqMan demonstrated high viral burden in multiple brain regions tested. Sequencing analysis of PCR product confirmed the virus to be HHV-6 variant B. Active infection as demonstrated by expression of viral RNA and high viral load in the CNS suggest a possible pathogenic role of HHV-6 in development neurologic complications post-BMT.