Research from P.D. Burbelo and co-authors yields new data on human herpesvirus 8
2009 JUL 8 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Improved diagnostic reagents and testing are currently needed for the serological detection of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infections. We evaluated the luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS) for profiling antibody responses to a panel of HHV-8 proteins for diagnosis of Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-infected individuals," researchers in the United States report. "Using a pilot serum set, LIPS detected robust antibody responses to several known antigens, and a screen of 14 additional HHV-8 proteins identified v-cyclin as a potentially new diagnostic antigen. In evaluating a training-serum set, a four-antigen panel (K8.1, v-cyclin, ORF65, and a LANA fragment) was found to provide sufficient information for diagnosis. Analysis of a validation serum set using the combined results from these four separate antigen tests showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Furthermore, a LIPS format using a mixture of the four antigens, which simplifies data collection and analysis, closely matched the diagnostic performance of the combined separate tests (R = 0.95). This four-antigen mixture format analyzed with the validation serum set also showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity but was not statistically different from two separate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (94% sensitivity and 100% specificity) using baculovirus-produced LANA and bacterially produced K8.1. Heat map analysis of KS patient antibody titers revealed marked heterogeneity in humoral responses to this four-antigen panel. Overall, the LIPS assay showed 97% sensitivity, and positive anti-v-cyclin antibodies were detected in approximately 75% of the KS sera," wrote P.D. Burbelo and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "These results suggest that LIPS screening using an antigen mixture is a sensitive and high-throughput method for serological screening of HHV-8 infection in individuals with KS.." Burbelo and colleagues published their study in Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (Four-Antigen Mixture Containing V-Cyclin for Serological Screening of Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2009;16(5):621-627). For additional information, contact P.D. Burbelo, Bldg 49, Room 1C20, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology is: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: United States, Bethesda, Biotechnology, Diagnostics, Enzymology, HHV-8, Human Herpesvirus 8, Immunization, Immunology, KSHV, Kaposi Sarcoma, Luciferase, Oncology, Vaccines, Virology. This article was prepared by Vaccine Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Vaccine Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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