Cytomegalovirus: Reactivation Of This Virus Can Be Prevented After Stem Cell Transplantation

by Rishika Gupta on January 19, 2019 at 2:26 PM

To prevent the reactivation of Cytomegalovirus in stem cell transplant recipient, a technique suggested by researchers can be used.

In a mouse model, researchers have identified a potential pathway towards creating effective treatments for Cytomegalovirus, a common, yet potentially lethal viral infection for stem cell transplant patients.

Potential Window Found for Treating Human Cytomegalovirus and Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of birth defects associated with infection spreads from pregnant mother to fetus and from organ to organ in newborns.

‘As a principle, reactivation of CMV could be prevented by passively administering immune serum containing antibodies matched to the infecting viral strain. In the study, the serum replaced dwindling antiviral antibodies, which were not being replaced by the donor B cells, and so thus kept viral reactivation at bay.’

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The results define the mechanisms that allow the insidious virus to re-awaken after periods of dormancy and identify a readily translatable strategy for developing new clinical approaches.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a nearly ubiquitous herpes-type virus present in some estimated 60-90% of healthy adults. Like other herpesviruses, CMV can become dormant and remain in the body without effect until reactivating at a later time. For most of those who test positive for the virus, CMV is nothing to worry about - infections are mild and are kept in check by the immune system. However, for heavily immunosuppressed individuals, like patients recovering from bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (BMT), CMV infection and reactivation can be deadly.

New Compound Developed to Fight Cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading nongenetic cause of deafness and results in the deaths of hundreds of children annually.

Despite its association with significantly reduced survival following transplantations, the development of effective vaccines and antiviral therapies for CMV has been largely unsuccessful. Limited by toxicity and emergent drug-resistant strains, current therapies have been aimed toward mitigating, rather than preventing CMV disease.

Furthermore, preclinical animal models capable of reproducing CMV reactivation after a period of latency have been insufficient thus far. To address this need, Jose Martins and colleagues developed a preclinical mouse model that represented reactivation following BMT and discovered the crucial role humoral immunity plays in keeping CMV dormant.

According to Martins et al., reactivation of CMV could be prevented by passively administering immune serum containing antibodies matched to the infecting viral strain. The serum replaced dwindling antiviral antibodies, which were not being replaced by the donor B cells, and it does thus keep viral reactivation at bay. In a related Perspective, Maria-Luisa Alegre discusses the implications of this study in greater detail.

Source: Eurekalert

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