Singh, Navdeep;
(2005)
The genotypic characterisation of human herpesvirus 8 in different groups.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Preview |
Text
Singh.Navdeep_thesis.pdf Download (33MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in patients with Kaposi's sarconna (KS) or people at risk of developing KS is high, while that in low-risk populations remains unclear. Use of disparate serological assays for anti HHV-8 detection contributes to this uncertainty. Hypothesising that in populations at low risk of HHV-8, the detection of HHV-8 genome enhances the specificity of and lends sensitivity to estimations of HHV-8 prevalence, studies were conducted to compare the genoprevalence and molecular epidemiology of HHV-8 in UK subpopulations at varying risk of HIV infection or KS: blood donors, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). A protocol for amplifying sub-genomic HHV-8 DNA was first developed using blood originating from HIV-seropositive patients, from which CD45+ cells were immunomagnetically separated and their extracted DNA submitted to nested PCR. It was determined that such an approach afforded greater sensitivity to HHV-8 DNA detection than approaches based on PCR applied to separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Using the improved protocol, DNA from open reading frame (ORF) 26 of the HHV-8 genome could be amplified from 24% of blood donor samples. In a subsequent donor group, DNA from ORFs 26 and K1 was detectable in 8% and 9%, respectively. ORF K1 sequences could be classified as belonging to genotypes A1, A4 and C3. HHV-8 seropositivity in the second group was 12% and 24%, as determined by two antibody assays, and The Genotypic characterisation of Human Herpes Virus 8 in Different Groups. herpes simplex virus-2 seropositivity was 0%. No associations were found between HHV-8 genome and anti HHV-8 detection. The findings in the BMT and CFS groups further substantiate the hypothesis that HHV-8 infection is more widespread than previously thought, carriers may not mount antibody responses detectable by current serological assays, and the principal HHV-8 transmission route is not sexual.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | The genotypic characterisation of human herpesvirus 8 in different groups |
| Identifier: | PQ ETD:602623 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Thesis digitised by ProQuest. Third party copyright material has been removed from the ethesis. Images identifying individuals have been redacted or partially redacted to protect their identity. |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1446698 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
