General Description
Cytomegaly is caused by a viral infection, which shows an inapparent progression, however leads to serious symptoms with immune-compromised patients and newborns.
The cytomegaly virus (CMV) with a particle diameter of 100 nm (inclusive envelope the virion measures 200 nm) belongs to the family of herpesviridae like Herpes 1 and Herpes 2. The transmission is effected via saliva and by long-term intimate contacts. The incubation time is 2-10 days for primary infections.
Cytomegaly appears often during the gravidity, and per year up to 5% of the pregnant women show clinical signs of the disease. In the early phase the illness frequently remains undetected, and the affected women themselves show no symptoms. When however newborns are infected (1% of the births), these show in 10% of the cases disease symptoms with late damages like retinitis, ulcera of the mucous membrane, viral pneumonia, meningitis, microencephaly, hydrocephalus and skin ulcerations. The incidence of women capable of childbearing is estimated to be 65%, so that an assessment of the immune status before pregnancy is mandatory. After a negative result, a control check is recommended in the 20th week of gestation.
Besides the symptomatic treatment a specific therapy with phosphonoformate and ganciclovir is possible. A vaccination does not exist, so that in the case of an infection only passive CMV immunoglobulins are administered.
Together with the differential assessment of the above mentioned symptoms, the diagnosis is performed clinically in tissue samples via the so-called "owl eyes". The following laboratory methods are available: CF and ELISA, determination of virus nucleic acid (PCR) as well as virus isolation (cell culture). Serologically, IgG and IgM antibodies can be detected and quantitated by the ELISA technique. Also the measurement of the avidity of the IgG molecules is appropriate.
Long‐term immune changes after COVID‐19 and the effect of BCG vaccination and latent infections on disease severity
Bendíčková K, Papatheodorou I, Blažková G, Helán M, Haláková M, Bednář P, Spearing E, Obermannová L, Štíchová J, Heroldová MD, Tomáš T, Panovský R, Šrámek V, De Zuani M, Vlková M, Růžek D, Hortová-Kohoutková M, Frič J
Clinical & Translational Immunology2025 JunPubMed ID: 40584929Read Article
Applications: ELISA
Reactive species: Human
"Abstract: Several years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on immunity and the potential protective role of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination through trained immunity remain a subject of investigation. This study aimed to determine the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 on immune cells and the association between BCG vaccination, latent infections and COVID-19 severity and sepsis progression."
Article snippet: Anti-CMV, anti-BCG and anti-T. gondii IgG levels in plasma were measured using commercial ELISA kits (Cytomegalovirus IgG ELISA Kit [DEIA326, Creative Diagnostics, New York City, USA].
Figure 1. Detection of plasma antibodies against BCG/CMV/T. gondii in post-COVID-19 and sepsis patients.
Phenotypic and epigenetic profiles of circulating NK cells in spontaneous HIV-1 controllers
Huber, A., Groenendijk, A. L., Navas, A., Vadaq, N., Ruijten, S. D. E., Matzaraki, V., Fok, E. T., Gurbanova, A., Vos, W. A. J. W., Blaauw, M. J. T., van Eekeren, L. E., Jacobs-Cleophas, M. C. P., Stalenhoef, J., Berrevoets, M., van der Molen, R., van der Meer, A., de Jonge, M. I., Martens, J. H. A., Rokx, C., Verbon, A., … Dos Santos, J. C.
Applications: ELISA
Reactive species: Human
"Abstract: Background: NK cells play a key role in eliminating HIV-infected cells, but it is unclear whether there are specific NK cell receptor signatures in spontaneous HIV controllers.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of circulating NK cell phenotypes in people living with HIV (PLHIV), divided into spontaneous HIV controllers (HIC), normal progressors on antiretroviral therapy (non-HIC), and first-degree HIV-negative family members. Using supervised and unsupervised flow cytometry, we assessed NK cell markers and receptors. We performed an epigenetic analysis of H3K4me3 chromatin enrichment in NK cells from both HIC and non-HIC and measured IFNγ, Perforin and CD107a expression in NK cells upon stimulation with IL-2/IL-15, K562 cells, and IFNα. Additionally, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping using data from HIC and non-HIC part of the 2000HIV study.
Findings: HIV controllers had higher levels of CD56bright NK cells and increased expression of NKp46, NKp30, and DNAM-1. The genetic association between protective MHC class I alleles and the NK cell receptor KIR2DL2/3 supports a genetic predisposition to HIV control. Unsupervised clustering identified an HIV-induced NK cell population, separate from CMV-induced NK cells. Epigenetic analysis revealed greater H3K4me3 marks in genes involved in immune response pathways, including IFNα, IL-15, and IL-2. The memory-like NK cell subpopulation was characterised by elevated expression of NKG2C and ILT2, with reduced KIR2DL2/3 in HIC. These memory NK cells were more responsive to stimulation with IFNα, resulting in increased production of IFNγ in HIC.
Interpretation: These results suggest that spontaneous HIV control is associated with an NK cell memory phenotype, shaped by HIV infection, epigenetic modifications, and genetic factors.
Funding: The authors are part of the 2000HIV study, which is supported by ViiV Healthcare."
Article snippet: All study participants were tested for anti-CMV IgG serology using an ELISA (DEIA326, Creative Diagnostics, Shirley, New York, US), according to the manufacturer's instructions.