InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. periHepatitis The Fitz-Hugh–Curtis syndrome was originally described as a complication of gonococcal PID. However, studies over the past several decades have suggested that chlamydial infection is more commonly associated with perihepatitis than is N. gonorrhoeae. Perihepatitis should be suspected in young, sexually active women who develop right-upper-quadrant pain, fever, or nausea. Evidence of salpingitis may or may not be found on examination. Frequently, perihepatitis is strongly associated with extensive tubal scarring, adhesions, and inflammation observed at laparoscopy, and high titers of antibody to the 57-kDa chlamydial heat-shock protein have been documented. Culture and/or serologic evidence of C. trachomatis is found in three-fourths of women with this syndrome. UretHral syndrome in women In the absence of infection with uropathogens such as coliforms or Staphylococcus saprophyticus,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. C. trachomatis is the pathogen most commonly isolated from college women with dysuria, frequency, and pyuria. Screening studies can recover C. trachomatis from both the cervix and the urethra; in up to 25% of infected women, the organism is isolated only from the urethra. The urethral syndrome in women consists of dysuria and frequency in conjunction with chlamydial urethritis, pyuria, and no bacteriuria or urinary pathogens. Although symptoms of the urethral syndrome may develop in some women with chlamydial infection, the major-1169 ity of women attending STD clinics for urethral chlamydial infection do not have dysuria or frequency. Even in women with chlamydial urethritis causing the acute urethral syndrome, signs of urethritis such as urethral discharge, meatal redness, and swelling are uncommon. However, mucopurulent cervicitis in a woman presenting with dysuria and frequency strongly suggests C. trachomatis urethritis. Other correlates of chlamydial urethral syndrome include a


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. are uncommon. However, mucopurulent cervicitis in a woman presenting with dysuria and frequency strongly suggests C. trachomatis urethritis. Other correlates of chlamydial urethral syndrome include a duration of dysuria of >7–10 days, lack of hematuria, and lack of suprapubic tenderness. Abnormal urethral Gram’s stains showing >10 PMNs per 1000× field in women with dysuria but without coliform bacteriuria support the diagnosis of chlamydial urethritis. Other possible diagnoses include gonococcal or trichomonal infection of the urethra.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. infection in pregnancy and tHe neonatal period Infections during pregnancy can be transmitted to infants during delivery. Approximately 20–30% of infants exposed to C. trachomatis in the birth canal develop conjunctivitis, and 10–15% subsequently develop pneumonia. Consequently, all newborn infants receive ocular prophylaxis at birth to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. Without treatment, conjunctivitis usually develops at 5–19 days of life and often results in a profuse mucopurulent discharge. Roughly half of infected infants develop clinical evidence of inclusion conjunctivitis. However, it is impossible to differentiate chlamydial conjunctivitis from other forms of neonatal conjunctivitis (e.g., that due to N. gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or HSV) on clinical grounds; thus laboratory diagnosis is required. Inclusions within epithelial cells are often detected in Giemsa-stained conjunctival smears, but these smears are considerably less sensitive than


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. grounds; thus laboratory diagnosis is required. Inclusions within epithelial cells are often detected in Giemsa-stained conjunctival smears, but these smears are considerably less sensitive than cultures or NAATs for chlamydiae. Gram-stained smears may show gonococci or occasional small gram-negative coccobacilli in Haemophilus conjunctivitis, but smears should be accompanied by cultures or NAATs for these agents.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. C. trachomatis has also been isolated frequently and persistently from the nasopharynx, rectum, and vagina of infected infants—occasionally for >1 year in the absence of treatment. In some cases, otitis media results from perinatally acquired chlamydial infection. Pneumonia may develop in infants from 2 weeks to 4 months of age. C. trachomatis is estimated to cause 20–30% of pneumonia cases in infants <6 months of age. Epidemiologic studies have linked chlamydial pulmonary infection in infants with increased occurrence of subacute lung disease (bronchitis, asthma, wheezing) in later childhood.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. lympHogranUloma venereUm C. trachomatis serovars L1, L2, and L3 cause LGV, an invasive systemic STD. The peak inci dence of LGV corresponds with the age of greatest sexual activity: the second and third decades of life. The worldwide incidence of LGV is falling, but the disease is still endemic and a major cause of morbidity in parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. LGV is rare in industrialized countries; for more than a decade, the reported incidence in the United States has been only 0.1 case per 100,000 population. In the Bahamas, an apparent outbreak of LGV was described in association with a concurrent increase in heterosexual infection with HIV. Reports of outbreaks with the newly identified variant L2b in Europe, Australia, and the United States indicate that LGV is becoming more prevalent among MSM. These cases have usually presented as hemorrhagic proctocolitis in HIV-positive men. More widespread use of NAATs for identification of rectal infections may


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. LGV is becoming more prevalent among MSM. These cases have usually presented as hemorrhagic proctocolitis in HIV-positive men. More widespread use of NAATs for identification of rectal infections may have enhanced case recognition.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. LGV begins as a small painless papule that tends to ulcerate at the site of inoculation, often escaping attention. This primary lesion heals in a few days without scarring and is usually recognized as LGV only in retrospect. LGV strains of C. trachomatis have occasionally been recovered from genital ulcers and from the urethra of men and the endocervix of women who present with inguinal adenopathy; these areas may be the primary sites of infection in some cases. Proctitis is more common among people who practice receptive anal intercourse, and an elevated white blood cell count in anorectal smears may predict LGV in these patients. Ulcer formation may facilitate transmission of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. 1170 As NAATs for C. trachomatis are being used more often, increasing numbers of cases of LGV proctitis are being recognized in MSM. Such patients present with anorectal pain and mucopurulent, bloody rectal discharge. Sigmoidoscopy reveals ulcerative proctitis or proctocolitis, with purulent exudate and mucosal bleeding. Histopathologic findings in the rectal mucosa include granulomas with giant cells, crypt abscesses, and extensive inflammation. These clinical, sigmoidoscopic, and histopathologic findings may closely resemble those of Crohn’s disease of the rectum. The most common presenting picture in heterosexual men and women is the inguinal syndrome, which is characterized by painful inguinal lymphadenopathy beginning 2–6 weeks after presumed exposure; in rare instances, the onset comes after a few months. The inguinal adenopathy is unilateral in two-thirds of cases, and palpable enlargement of the iliac and femoral nodes is often evident on the same side as the enlarged


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. onset comes after a few months. The inguinal adenopathy is unilateral in two-thirds of cases, and palpable enlargement of the iliac and femoral nodes is often evident on the same side as the enlarged inguinal nodes. The nodes are initially discrete, but progressive periadenitis results in a matted mass of nodes that becomes fluctuant and suppurative. The overlying skin becomes fixed, inflamed, and thin, and multiple draining fistulas finally develop. Extensive enlargement of chains of inguinal nodes above and below the inguinal ligament (“the sign of the groove”) is not specific and, although not uncommon, is documented in only a minority of cases. Spontaneous healing usually takes place after several months; inguinal scars or granulomatous masses of various sizes persist for life. Massive pelvic lymphadenopathy may lead to exploratory laparotomy.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Constitutional symptoms are common during the stage of regional lymphadenopathy and, in cases of proctitis, may include fever, chills, headache, meningismus, anorexia, myalgias, and arthralgias. Other systemic complications are infrequent but include arthritis with sterile effusion, aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, and erythema nodosum (Fig. 25e-40). Complications of untreated anorectal infection include perirectal abscess; anal fistulas; and rectovaginal, rectovesical, and ischiorectal fistulas. Secondary bacterial infection probably contributes to these complications. Rectal stricture is a late complication of anorectal infection and usually develops 2–6 cm from the anal orifice—i.e., at a site within reach on digital rectal examination. A small percentage of cases of LGV in men present as chronic progressive infiltrative, ulcerative, or fistular lesions of the penis, urethra, or scrotum. Associated lymphatic obstruction may produce elephantiasis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of cases of LGV in men present as chronic progressive infiltrative, ulcerative, or fistular lesions of the penis, urethra, or scrotum. Associated lymphatic obstruction may produce elephantiasis. When urethral stricture occurs, it usually involves the posterior urethra and causes incontinence or difficulty with urination.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Diagnosis • detection metHods Historically, chlamydiae were cultivated in the yolk sac of embryonated eggs. The organisms can be grown more easily in tissue culture, but cell culture—once considered the diagnostic gold standard—has been replaced by nonculture assays (Table 213-1). In general, culture for chlamydiae in clinical specimens is now performed only in specialized laboratories. The first nonculture assays, such as DFA staining of clinical material and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), have been replaced by NAATS, which are molecular Infection Suggestive Signs/Symptoms Presumptive Diagnosisa Confirmatory Test of Choice aA presumptive diagnosis of chlamydial infection is often made in the syndromes listed when gonococci are not found. A positive test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae does not exclude the involvement of C. trachomatis, which often is present in patients with gonorrhea.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Abbreviations: CF, complement-fixing; FA, fluorescent antibody; LGV, lymphogranuloma venereum; micro-IF, microimmunofluorescence; MPC, mucopurulent cervicitis; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test; NGU, nongonococcal urethritis; PGU, postgonococcal urethritis. Source: Reprinted with permission from WE Stamm: Chlamydial infections, in Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th ed, AS Fauci et al (eds). New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008, p 1075. tests that amplify the nucleic acids in clinical specimens. NAATS are currently recommended by the CDC as the diagnostic assays of choice; four or five NAAT assays approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are commercially available, some as high-throughput robotic platforms. Point-of-care diagnostic assays (including NAATs), by which patients can be treated before leaving the clinic, are of increasing interest and are becoming available.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. cHoice of specimen Cervical and urethral swabs have traditionally been used for the diagnosis of STDs in female and male patients, respectively. However, given the greatly increased sensitivity and specificity of NAATs, less invasive samples (e.g., urine for both sexes and vaginal swabs for women) can be used. For screening of asymptomatic women, the CDC now recommends that self-collected or clinician-collected vaginal swabs, which are slightly more sensitive than urine, be used. Urine screening tests are often used in outreach screening programs, however. For symptomatic women undergoing a pelvic examination, cervical swab samples are desirable because they have slightly higher chlamydial counts. For male patients, a urine specimen is the sample of choice, but self-collected penile-meatal swabs have been explored.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. alternative specimen types Ocular samples from babies and adults can be assessed by NAATs. However, since commercial NAATs for this purpose have not yet been approved by the FDA, laboratories must perform their own verification studies. Samples from rectal and pharyngeal sites have been used successfully to detect chlamydiae, but laboratories must verify test performance.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. otHer diagnostic issUes Because NAATs detect nucleic acids instead of live organisms, they should be used with caution as test-of-cure assays. Residual nucleic acid from cells rendered noninfective by antibiotics may continue to yield a positive result in NAATs until as long as 3 weeks after therapy, when viable organisms have actually been eradicated. Therefore, clinicians should not use NAATs for test of cure until after 3 weeks. The CDC currently does not recommend a test of cure after treatment for infection with C. trachomatis. However, because incidence studies have demonstrated that previous chlamydial infection increases the probability of becoming reinfected, the CDC does recommend that previously infected individuals be rescreened 3 months after treatment.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. serology Serologic testing may be helpful in the diagnosis of LGV and neonatal pneumonia caused by C. trachomatis. The serologic test of choice is the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test, in which high-titer purified EBs mixed with embryonated chicken yolk-sac material are affixed to a glass microscope slide to which dilutions of serum are applied. After incubation and washing, fluorescein-conjugated IgG or IgM antibody is applied. The test is read with an epifluorescence microscope, with the highest dilution of serum producing visible fluorescence designated as the titer. The MIF test is not widely available and is highly labor intensive. Although the complement fixation (CF) test also can be used, it employs only lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the antigen and therefore identifies the pathogen only to the genus level. Single-point titers of >1:64 support a diagnosis of LGV, in which it is difficult to demonstrate rising antibody titers; i.e., paired serum samples are difficult to obtain


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. only to the genus level. Single-point titers of >1:64 support a diagnosis of LGV, in which it is difficult to demonstrate rising antibody titers; i.e., paired serum samples are difficult to obtain since, by its very nature, the disease results in the patient’s being seen by the physician after the acute stage. Any antibody titer of >1:16 is considered significant evidence of exposure to chlamydiae. However, serologic testing is never recommended for diagnosis of uncomplicated genital infections of the cervix, urethra, and lower genital tract or for C. trachomatis screening of asymptomatic individuals.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. TREATMEnT c. tracHomatis Genital infections A 7-day course of tetracycline (500 mg four times daily), doxycycline (100 mg twice daily), erythromycin (500 mg four times daily), or a fluoroquinolone (ofloxacin, 300 mg twice daily; or levofloxacin, 500 mg/d) can be used for treatment of uncomplicated chlamydial infections. A single 1-g oral dose of azithromycin is as effective as a 7-day course of doxycycline for the treatment of uncomplicated genital 1171


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. C. trachomatis infections in adults. Azithromycin causes fewer adverse gastrointestinal reactions than do older macrolides such as erythromycin. The single-dose regimen of azithromycin has great appeal for the treatment of patients with uncomplicated chlamydial infection (especially those without symptoms and those with a likelihood of poor compliance) and of the sexual partners of infected patients. These advantages must be weighed against the considerably greater cost of azithromycin. Whenever possible, the single 1-g dose should be given as directly observed therapy. Although not approved by the FDA for use in pregnancy, this regimen appears to be safe and effective for this purpose. However, amoxicillin (500 mg three times daily for 7 days) also can be given to pregnant women. The fluoroquinolones are contraindicated in pregnancy. A 2-week course of treatment is recommended for complicated chlamydial infections (e.g., PID, epididymitis) and at least a 3-week course of doxycycline


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. are contraindicated in pregnancy. A 2-week course of treatment is recommended for complicated chlamydial infections (e.g., PID, epididymitis) and at least a 3-week course of doxycycline (100 mg orally twice daily) or erythromycin base (500 mg orally four times daily) for LGV. Failure of treatment with a tetracycline in genital infections usually indicates poor compliance or reinfection rather than involvement of a drug-resistant strain. To date, clinically significant drug resistance has not been observed in C. trachomatis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Treatment or testing for chlamydiae should be considered among N. gonorrhoeae–infected patients because of the frequency of co-infection. Systemic treatment with erythromycin has been recommended for ophthalmia neonatorum and for C. trachomatis pneumonia in infants. For the treatment of adult inclusion conjunc tivitis, a single 1-g dose of azithromycin is as effective as standard 10-day treatment with doxycycline. Recommended treatment regimens for both bubonic and anogenital LGV include tetracycline, doxycycline, or erythromycin for 21 days.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The continued high prevalence of chlamydial infections in most parts of the United States is due primarily to the failure to diagnose—and therefore treat—patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection and their sex partners. Urethral or cervical infection with C. trachomatis has been well documented in a high proportion of the sex partners of patients with NGU, epididymitis, reactive arthritis, salpingitis, and endocervicitis. If possible, confirmatory laboratory tests for chlamydiae should be undertaken in these individuals, but even those without positive tests or evidence of clinical disease who have recently been exposed to proven or possible chlamydial infection (e.g., NGU) should be offered therapy. A novel approach is partner-delivered therapy, in which infected patients receive treatment and are also provided with single-dose azithromycin to give to their sex partner(s).


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. In neonates with conjunctivitis or infants with pneumonia, erythromycin ethylsuccinate or estolate can be given orally at a dosage of 50 mg/kg per day, preferably in four divided doses, for 2 weeks. Careful attention must be given to compliance with therapy—a frequent problem. Relapses of eye infection are common after topical treatment with erythromycin or tetracycline ophthalmic ointment and may also follow oral erythromycin therapy. Thus follow-up cultures should be performed after treatment. Both parents should be examined for C. trachomatis infection and, if diagnostic testing is not readily available, should be treated with doxycycline or azithromycin.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Prevention Since many chlamydial infections are asymptomatic, effective control and prevention must involve periodic screening of individuals at risk. Selective cost-effective screening criteria have been developed. Among women, young age (generally <25 years) is a critical risk factor for chlamydial infections in nearly all studies. Other risk factors include mucopurulent cervicitis; multiple, new, or symptomatic male sex partners; and lack of barrier contraceptive use. In some settings, screening based on young age may be as sensitive 1172 as criteria that incorporate behavioral and clinical measures. Another strategy is universal testing of all patients in high-prevalence clinic populations (e.g., STD clinics, juvenile detention facilities, and family planning clinics). The effectiveness of selective screening in reducing the prevalence of chlamydial infection among women has been demonstrated in several studies. In the Pacific Northwest, where extensive screening began in family


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. of selective screening in reducing the prevalence of chlamydial infection among women has been demonstrated in several studies. In the Pacific Northwest, where extensive screening began in family planning clinics in 1998 and in STD clinics in 1993, the prevalence declined from 10% in the 1980s to <5% in 2000. Similar trends have occurred in association with screening programs elsewhere. In addition, screening can effect a reduction in upper genital tract disease. In Seattle, women at a large health maintenance organization who were screened for chlamydial infection on a routine basis had a lower incidence of symptomatic PID than did women who received standard care and underwent more selective screening. In settings with low to moderate prevalence, the prevalence at which selective screening becomes more cost-effective than universal screening must be defined. Most studies have concluded that universal screening is preferable in settings with a chlamydial prevalence of >3–7%.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. screening becomes more cost-effective than universal screening must be defined. Most studies have concluded that universal screening is preferable in settings with a chlamydial prevalence of >3–7%. Depending on the criteria used, selective screening is likely to be more cost-effective when prevalence falls below 3%. Nearly all regions of the United States have now initiated screening programs, particularly in family planning and STD clinics. Along with single-dose therapy, the availability of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic NAATs using urine specimens and self-obtained vaginal swabs makes it feasible to mount an effective nationwide Chlamydia control program, with screening of high-risk individuals in traditional health-care settings and in novel outreach and community-based settings. The


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has given C. trachomatis screening a Grade A recommendation, which means that private insurance and Medicare will cover its cost under the Affordable Care Act. TRACHOMA Epidemiology Trachoma—a sequela of ocular disease in developing countries—continues to be a leading cause of preventable infectious blindness worldwide. The WHO estimates that ~6 million people have been blinded by trachoma and that ~1.3 million people in developing countries still suffer from preventable blindness due to trachoma; certainly hundreds of millions live in trachoma-endemic areas. Foci of trachoma persist in Australia, the South Pacific, and Latin America. Serovars A, B, Ba, and C are isolated from patients with clinical trachoma in areas of endemicity in developing countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The trachoma-hyperendemic areas of the world are in northern and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, drier regions of the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. In hyperendemic areas, the prevalence of trachoma is essentially 100% by the second or third year of life. Active disease is most common among young children, who are the reservoir for trachoma. By adulthood, active infection is infrequent but sequelae result in blindness. In such areas, trachoma constitutes the major cause of blindness. Trachoma is transmitted through contact with discharges from the eyes of infected patients. Transmission is most common under poor hygienic conditions and most often takes place between family members or between families with shared facilities. Flies can also transfer the mucopurulent ocular discharges, carrying the organisms on their legs from one person to another. The International Trachoma Initiative founded by the WHO in 1998 aims to eliminate blinding trachoma globally by 2020.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Clinical Manifestations Both endemic trachoma and adult inclusion conjunctivitis present initially as conjunctivitis characterized by small lymphoid follicles in the conjunctiva. In regions with hyperendemic classic blinding trachoma, the disease usually starts insidiously before the age of 2 years. Reinfection is common and probably contributes to the pathogenesis of trachoma. Studies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other NAATs indicate that chlamydial DNA is often present in the ocular secretions of patients with trachoma, even in the absence of positive cultures. Thus persistent infection may be more common than was previously thought.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The cornea becomes involved, with inflammatory leukocytic infiltrations and superficial vascularization (pannus formation). As the inflammation continues, conjunctival scarring eventually distorts the eyelids, causing them to turn inward so that the lashes constantly abrade the eyeball (trichiasis and entropion); eventually the corneal epithelium is abraded and may ulcerate, with subsequent corneal scarring and blindness. Destruction of the conjunctival goblet cells, lacrimal ducts, and lacrimal gland may produce a “dry-eye” syndrome, with resultant corneal opacity due to drying (xerosis) or secondary bacterial corneal ulcers.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Communities with blinding trachoma often experience seasonal epidemics of conjunctivitis due to H. influenzae that contribute to the intensity of the inflammatory process. In such areas, the active infectious process usually resolves spontaneously in affected persons at 10–15 years of age, but conjunctival scars continue to shrink, producing trichiasis and entropion with subsequent corneal scarring in adults. In areas with milder and less prevalent disease, the process may be much slower, with active disease continuing into adulthood; blindness is rare in these cases.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Eye infection with oculogenital C. trachomatis strains in sexually active young adults presents as an acute onset of unilateral follicular conjunctivitis and preauricular lymphadenopathy similar to that seen in acute conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus or HSV. If untreated, the disease may persist for 6 weeks to 2 years. It is frequently associated with corneal inflammation in the form of discrete opacities (“infiltrates”), punctate epithelial erosions, and minor degrees of superficial corneal vascularization. Very rarely, conjunctival scarring and eyelid distortion occur, particularly in patients treated for many months with topical glucocorticoids. Recurrent eye infections develop most often in patients whose sexual partners are not treated with antimicrobial agents.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The clinical diagnosis of classic trachoma can be made if two of the following signs are present: (1) lymphoid follicles on the upper tarsal conjunctiva; (2) typical conjunctival scarring; (3) vascular pannus; or (4) limbal follicles or their sequelae, Herbert’s pits. The clinical diagnosis of endemic trachoma should be confirmed by laboratory tests in children with relatively marked degrees of inflammation. Intracytoplasmic chlamydial inclusions are found in 10–60% of Giemsa-stained conjunctival smears in such populations, but chlamydial NAATs are more sensitive and are often positive when smears or cultures are negative. Follicular conjunctivitis in European or American adults living in trachomatous regions is rarely due to trachoma.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Adult inclusion conjunctivitis responds well to treatment with the same regimens used in uncomplicated genital infections—namely, azithromycin (a 1-g single oral dose) or doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for 7 days). Simultaneous treatment of all sexual partners is necessary to prevent ocular reinfection and chlamydial genital disease. Topical antibiotic treatment is not required for patients who receive systemic antibiotics.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Psittacine birds and many other avian species act as natural reservoirs for C. psittaci–type organisms, which are common pathogens in domestic mammals and birds. The species C. psittaci, which now includes only avian strains, affects humans only as a zoonosis. (The other strains previously included in this species have been placed into different species that generally reflect the animals they infect: C. abortus, C. muridarum, C. suis, C. felis, and C. caviae.) Although all birds are susceptible, pet birds (parrots, parakeets, macaws, and cockatiels) and poultry (turkeys and ducks) are most frequently involved in transmission of C. psittaci to humans. Exposure is greatest among poultry-processing workers and owners of pet birds. Infectious forms of the organisms are shed from both symptomatic and apparently healthy birds and may remain viable for several months. C. psittaci can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected birds or by inhalation of aerosols from avian nasal


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and apparently healthy birds and may remain viable for several months. C. psittaci can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected birds or by inhalation of aerosols from avian nasal discharges and from infectious avian fecal or feather dust. Transmission from person to person has never been demonstrated.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The diagnosis is usually established serologically. Psittacosis in humans may present as acute primary atypical pneumonia (which can be fatal in up to 10% of untreated cases); as severe chronic pneumonia; or as a mild illness or asymptomatic infection in persons exposed to infected birds. Fewer than 50 confirmed cases of psittacosis are reported in the United States each year, although many more cases probably occur than are reported. Control of psittacosis depends on control of avian sources of infection. A pandemic of psittacosis was once stopped by banning shipment or importation of psittacine birds. Birds can receive prophylaxis in the form of a tetracycline-containing feed. Imported birds are currently quarantined for 30 days of treatment.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Typical symptoms include fever, chills, muscular aches and pains, severe headache, hepatoand/or splenomegaly, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Cardiac complications may involve endocarditis and myocarditis. Fatal cases were common in the preantibiotic era. As a result of quarantine of imported birds and improved veterinary-hygienic measures, outbreaks and sporadic cases of psittacosis are now rare. Severe pneumonia requiring management in an intensive care unit may develop. Endocarditis, hepatitis, and neurologic complications may occur, and fatal cases have been reported. The incubation period is usually 5–19 days but can last as long as 28 days.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Previously, the most widely used serologic test for diagnosing chlamydial infections was the genus-specific CF test, in which assay of paired serum specimens often shows fourfold or greater increases in antibody titer. The CF test remains useful, but the gold standard of serologic tests is now the MIF test, which is not widely available (see section on diagnosis of C. trachomatis genital infection, above). Any antibody titer above 1:16 is considered significant evidence of exposure to chlamydiae, and a fourfold titer rise in paired sera in combination with a clinically compatible syndrome can be used to diagnose psittacosis. Some commercially available serologic tests based on measurement of antibodies to LPS can be useful when the clinical diagnosis is consistent with bird exposure; however, since these tests are reactive for all chlamydiae (i.e., all chlamydiae contain LPS), caution must be used in their interpretation.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The antibiotic of choice is tetracycline; the dosage for adults is 250 mg four times a day, continued for at least 3 weeks to avoid relapse. Severely ill patients may need cardiovascular and respiratory support. Erythromycin (500 mg four times a day by mouth) is an alternative therapy. C. pneumoniae is a common cause of human respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. This organism has been reported to account for as many as 10% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia, most of which are diagnosed by serology. Serologic studies have linked C. pneumoniae to atherosclerosis; isolation and PCR 1173 detection in cardiovascular tissues have also been reported. These findings suggest an expanded range of diseases and syndromes for


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InternalMed_Harrison. C. pneumoniae. The role of C. pneumoniae in the etiology of atherosclerosis has been discussed since 1988, when Finnish researchers presented serologic evidence of an association of this organism with coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. Subsequently, the organism was identified in atherosclerotic lesions by culture, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy; however, discrepant study results (including those of animal studies) and failure of large-scale treatment studies have raised doubts as to the etiologic role of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerosis. Large-scale case-cohort studies have demonstrated some association of C. pneumoniae with lung cancer, as evaluated by serology.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. and reinfection in adults. Seroprevalence rates of 40–70% show that C. pneumoniae is widespread in both industrialized and developing countries. Seropositivity usually is first detected at school age, and rates generally increase by ~10% per decade. About 50% of individuals have detectable antibody at 30 years of age, and most have detectable antibody by the eighth decade of life. Although serologic evidence suggests that C. pneumoniae may be associated with up to 10% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia, most of this evidence is based not on paired serum samples but rather on a single high IgG titer. Some doubt exists about the true prevalence and etiologic role of C. pneumoniae in atypical pneumonia, especially since reports of cross-reactivity have raised questions about the specificity of serology when only a single serum sample is used for diagnosis.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Little is known about the pathogenesis of C. pneumoniae infection. It begins in the upper respiratory tract and, in many persons, persists as a prolonged asymptomatic condition of the upper respiratory mucosal surfaces. However, evidence of replication within vascular endothelium and synovial membranes of joints shows that, in at least some individuals, the organism is transported to distant sites, perhaps within macrophages. A C. pneumoniae outer-membrane protein may induce host immune responses whose cross-reactivity with human proteins results in an autoimmune reaction. As mentioned above, epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between serologic evidence of C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerotic disease of the coronary and other arteries. In addition,


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. C. pneumoniae has been identified in atherosclerotic plaques by electron microscopy, DNA hybridization, and immunocytochemistry. The organism has been recovered in culture from atheromatous plaque—a result indicating the presence of viable replicating bacteria in vessels. Evidence from animal models supports the hypothesis that C. pneumoniae infection of the upper respiratory tract is followed by recovery of the organism from atheromatous lesions in the aorta and that the infection accelerates the process of atherosclerosis, especially in hypercholesterolemic animals. Antimicrobial treatment of the infected animals reverses the increased risk of atherosclerosis. In humans, two small trials in patients with unstable angina or recent myocardial infarction suggested that antibiotics reduce the likelihood of subsequent untoward cardiac events. However, larger-scale trials have not documented an effect of various antichlamydial regimens on the risk of these events.


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InternalMed_Harrison. C. pneumoniae was first reported as the etiologic agent of mild atypical pneumonia in military recruits and college students. The clinical spectrum of C. pneumoniae infection includes acute pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonitis, primarily in young adults. The clinical manifestations of primary infection appear to be more severe 11 and prolonged than those of reinfection. The pneumonitis of C. pneumoniae pneumonia resembles that of Mycoplasma pneumonia in that leukocytosis is frequently lacking and patients often have prominent antecedent upper respiratory tract symptoms, fever, nonproductive cough, mild to moderate illness, minimal findings on chest auscultation, and small segmental infiltrates on chest x-ray. In elderly patients, pneumonia due to C. pneumoniae can be especially severe and may necessitate hospitalization and respiratory support. Chronic infection with C. pneumoniae has been reported among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may also


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InternalMed_Harrison. severe and may necessitate hospitalization and respiratory support. Chronic infection with C. pneumoniae has been reported among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may also play a role in the natural history of asthma, including exacerbations. The clinical symptoms of respiratory infections caused by C. pneumoniae are nonspecific and do not differ from those caused by other agents of atypical pneumonia, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Serology, PCR amplification, and culture can be used to diagnose


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InternalMed_Harrison. C. pneumoniae infection. Serology has been the traditional method of diagnosing infection by C. pneumoniae. The gold standard serologic test is the MIF test (see section on diagnosis of C. trachomatis genital infection, above). Any antibody titer above 1:16 is considered significant evidence of exposure to chlamydiae. According to a CDC-sponsored expert working group, the diagnosis of acute C. pneumoniae infection requires demonstration of a fourfold rise in titer in paired serum samples. There are no official recommendations for diagnosis of chronic infections, although many research studies have used high titers of IgA as an indicator. The older CF tests and EIAs for LPS are not recommended, as they are not specific for C. pneumoniae but identify the chlamydiae only to the genus level. The organism is very difficult to grow in tissue culture but has been cultivated in HeLa cells, HEp-2 cells, and HL cells. Although NAATs are commercially available for


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InternalMed_Harrison. C. trachomatis, only research-based PCR assays are available for C. pneumoniae. Although few controlled trials of treatment have been reported, C. pneumoniae is inhibited in vitro by erythromycin, tetracycline, azithromycin, clarithromycin, gatifloxacin, and gemifloxacin. ecommended therapy consists of 2 gd of either tetracycline or erythromycin for 10–1 days. ther macrolides (e.g., azithromycin) and some fluorouinolones (e.g., levofloxacin and gatifloxacin) also appear to be effective. The authors wish to acknowledge the late Walter E. Stamm, MD, for his significant contributions to the field of Chlamydia research. Dr. Stamm wrote the chapters on chlamydiae for previous editions of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, and we thank the editors for permission to reproduce Figs. 213-1 and 213-2 as well as Table 213-1 from his chapter in the 17th edition. Dr. Stamm died on December 14, 2009, and this chapter is dedicated to him.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Medical Virology Fred Wang, Elliott Kieff DEFINING A VIRUS Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites. They consist of a DNA or RNA genome surrounded by protein. They may also have an outer-214e Section 11 Viral DiSeaSeS: General conSiDerationS membrane lipoprotein envelope. Viruses can replicate only within cells because their nucleic acid does not encode many enzymes necessary for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids or for the generation of high-energy phosphates. Typically, viral nucleic acids encode messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins necessary for replicating, packaging, and releasing progeny virus from infected cells.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viruses differ from virusoids, viroids, and prions. Virusoids are nucleic acids that depend on cells and helper viruses for packaging their nucleic acids into virus-like particles. Viroids are naked, cyclical, mostly double-strand small RNAs that appear to be restricted to plants, spread from cell to cell, and are replicated by cellular RNA polymerase II. Prions (Chap. 453e) are abnormal proteins that propagate and cause disease by altering the structure of a normal cell protein. Prions cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Straüssler disease, kuru, and human or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (“mad cow disease”).


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viral genomes may consist of singleor double-strand DNA, singleor double-strand RNA, single-strand or segmented antisense RNA, or double-strand segmented RNA. Viral nucleic acids may encode only a few genes or more than 100. Sense-strand viral RNA genomes can be translated directly into protein, whereas antisense RNAs must be copied into translatable RNA. Sense and antisense genomes are also referred to as positive-strand and negative-strand genomes, respectively. Viral nucleic acid is usually associated with virus-encoded nucleoprotein(s) in the virus core. Viral nucleic acids and nucleoproteins are almost always enclosed in a protein capsid. Because of the limited genetic complexity of viruses, their capsids are usually composed of multimers of identical capsomeres made up of one or a few proteins. Capsids have icosahedral or helical symmetry. Icosahedral capsid structures approximate spheres and have two-, three-, or fivefold axes of symmetry, whereas helical capsid structures have


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InternalMed_Harrison. proteins. Capsids have icosahedral or helical symmetry. Icosahedral capsid structures approximate spheres and have two-, three-, or fivefold axes of symmetry, whereas helical capsid structures have only a twofold axis of symmetry. The nucleic acid, nucleoprotein(s), and protein capsid together are called a nucleocapsid.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Many viruses are composed of a nucleic acid core and a capsid. For these viruses, the outer capsid surface mediates contact with uninfected cells’ plasma membranes. Other viruses are more complex and have an outer phospholipid, cholesterol, glycoprotein, and glycolipid envelope that is derived from virus-modified infected cell membranes. Cell nuclear, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, or plasma membranes that become parts of the viral envelope have usually been modified during infection by the insertion of virus-encoded glycoproteins, which mediate contact of enveloped virus with uninfected cell surfaces. Matrix or tegument proteins may fill the space between the nucleocapsid and the outer envelope of the virus.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Enveloped viruses are usually sensitive to lipid solvents or detergents that can dissolve the envelope, whereas viruses with protein nucleocapsid exteriors may be somewhat detergent resistant. A schematic diagram of large and complex herpesviruses is shown in Fig. 214e-1. Structures of prototypical pathogenic human viruses are described in Table 214e-1. The relative sizes and structures of typical pathogenic human viruses are shown in Fig. 214e-2. FIGURE 214e-1 Schematic diagram of an enveloped herpesvirus with an icosahedral nucleocapsid. The approximate respective dimensions of the nucleocapsid and the enveloped particles are 110 and 180 nm. The capsid is composed of 162 capsomeres: 150 with sixfold and 12 with fivefold axes of symmetry.


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InternalMed_Harrison. As is apparent from Table 214e-1 and Fig. 214e-2, the classification of viruses into orders and families is based on nucleic acid composition, nucleocapsid size and symmetry, and presence or absence of an envelope. Viruses of a single family have similar structures and may be morphologically indistinguishable in electron micrographs. Subclassification into genera depends on similarity in epidemiology, biologic effects, and nucleic acid sequence. Most viruses that infect humans have a common name related to their pathologic effects or the circumstances of their discovery. In addition, formal species names—consisting of the name of the host followed by the family or genus of the virus and a number—have been assigned by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. This dual terminology can cause confusion when viruses are referred to by either name—e.g., varicella-zoster virus (VZV) or human herpesvirus 3 (HHV-3).


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InternalMed_Harrison. STAGES OF VIRAL INFECTION OF CELLS IN CULTURE Viral Interactions with Cell Surfaces and Cell Entry To deliver its nucleic acid payload to the cell cytoplasm or nucleoplasm, a virus must overcome barriers posed by the cell’s plasma and cytoplasmic membranes. Infection is frequently initiated by weak electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions with the cell surface. Subsequent stronger, more specific attachment to a cell plasma membrane protein, carbohydrate, glycolipid, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, or sialic acid enables stable binding to a specific cell surface “receptor” that mediates fusion with the cell plasma membrane (see Table 145e-1). Receptor binding is often augmented by a viral surface protein interaction with more than one cell surface protein or co-receptor. Receptors and co-receptors are important determinants of the species and cell type that a virus can infect. For example, the HIV envelope glycoprotein binds to the T cell surface protein CD4 and then engages a chemokine


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InternalMed_Harrison. are important determinants of the species and cell type that a virus can infect. For example, the HIV envelope glycoprotein binds to the T cell surface protein CD4 and then engages a chemokine receptor that is the definitive co-receptor for the virus and mediates entry into the cell cytoplasm. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein gp350 binds to the B lymphocyte complement receptor CD21 and then uses a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule as a co-receptor and an integrin for definitive entry.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Family Representative Viruses Type of RNA/DNA Lipid Envelope Hepadnaviridae Hepatitis B virus ds DNA with ss portions Yes Parvoviridae Parvovirus B19 ss DNA No Papillomaviridae Human papillomaviruses ds DNA No aIncluding the coronaviruses causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS). bAlso called human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) and HHV-2, respectively. cAlso called HHV-3. dAlso called HHV-4. eAlso called HHV-5. fAlso called HHV-8. Abbreviations: ds, double-strand; ss, single-strand. Picornaviridae Genome size (kb) 7.2–8.4 Envelope No Capsid symmetry Icosahedral FIGURE 214e-2 Schematic diagrams of the major virus families including species that infect humans. The viruses are grouped by genome type and are drawn approximately to scale. Prototype viruses of each family that cause human disease are listed in Table 214e-1.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viruses have evolved a wide range of strategies to enter cells. Influenza virus has an outer-membrane hemagglutinin glycoprotein that binds to sialic acid on respiratory tract cell plasma membranes. The hemagglutinin mediates adsorption to cell membranes, receptor aggregation, and endocytosis. As the endosome pH decreases in the cell cytoplasm, the influenza hemagglutinin conformation changes, enabling hydrophobic helices, which are initially at the base of the hemagglutinin, to extend, interacting and fusing with the endosome membrane and thereby releasing the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The influenza virus M2 membrane channel protein has a key role in lowering endosome pH and permitting virus and cell membrane fusion.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Nonenveloped viruses (e.g., human papillomaviruses [HPVs]) and some enveloped viruses have evolved to partially fuse with cell plasma membrane receptors and be internalized into endosomes. The low pH in an endosome can then trigger virus membrane or capsid fusion with the endocytic membrane, releasing viral DNA into the cytoplasm to initiate infection.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Hydrophobic interactions required for fusion can be susceptible to chemical inhibition or blockade. The HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 is associated with gp41 on the viral surface. HIV gp120 binding to CD4 and then to specific chemokine receptors results in conformational changes that allow gp41 to initiate cell membrane fusion. The anti-HIV drug enfuvirtide is a small peptide derived from the gp41 structure. Enfuvirtide binds to gp41 and prevents conformational changes required for fusion. In contrast, maraviroc prevents virus entry by binding to the CCR5 receptor, thereby blocking gp120 binding to CCR5 and preventing gp120 fusion with CCR5.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viral Gene Expression and Replication After uncoating and release of viral nucleoprotein into the cytoplasm, the viral genome is transported to sites of expression and replication. To produce infectious progeny, viruses must produce proteins necessary for replicating their nucleic acids as well as structural proteins necessary for coating their nucleic acids and for assembling nucleic acids and proteins into progeny virus. Different viruses use different strategies and gene repertoires to accomplish these goals. Most DNA viruses, except for poxviruses, replicate their nucleic acid and assemble into nucleocapsids in the cell nucleus. RNA viruses, except for influenza viruses, transcribe and replicate their RNA and assemble in the cytoplasm before envelopment at the cell plasma membrane. The replication strategies of DNA and RNA viruses and of positiveand negative-strand RNA viruses are presented and discussed separately below. Medically important viruses of each group are used for


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InternalMed_Harrison. The replication strategies of DNA and RNA viruses and of positiveand negative-strand RNA viruses are presented and discussed separately below. Medically important viruses of each group are used for illustrative purposes.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Positive-strand rna viruses RNA viruses of medical importance include positive-strand picornaviruses, flaviviruses, togaviruses, caliciviruses, and coronaviruses. Genome RNA from positive-strand RNA viruses is released into the cytoplasm without associated enzymes. Cell ribosomes recognize and associate with the viral genome’s internal ribosome entry sequence and translate a virus-encoded polyprotein. Proteases within the polyprotein cleave out the viral RNA polymerase and other viral proteins necessary for replication. Antigenomic RNA is next transcribed from the genome RNA template. Positive-strand genomes and mRNAs are then transcribed from the antigenome RNA by the viral RNA polymerase and are translated into capsid proteins. Genomic RNA is encapsidated in the cytoplasm and released as the infected cell undergoes lysis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. negative-strand rna viruses Medically important negative-strand RNA viruses include rhabdoviruses, filoviruses, paramyxoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, and bunyaviruses. The genomes of negative-strand viruses are frequently segmented. Negative-strand RNA viral genomes are released into the cytoplasm with an associated RNA polymerase and one or more polymerase accessory proteins. The viral RNA polymerase transcribes mRNAs as well as full-length antigenome RNA, which is the template for genome RNA replication. Viral mRNAs encode the viral RNA polymerase and accessory factors as well as viral structural proteins. Except for influenza virus, which transcribes its mRNAs and antigenome RNAs in the cell nucleus, negative-strand RNA viruses replicate entirely in the cytoplasm. All negative-strand RNA viruses, including influenza viruses, assemble in the cytoplasm.


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InternalMed_Harrison. double-strand segmented rna viruses Double-strand RNA viruses are taxonomically grouped in the family Reoviridae. The medically important viruses in this group are rotaviruses and Colorado tick fever virus. Reovirus genomes have 10–12 RNA segments. Reovirus particles contain an RNA polymerase complex. These viruses replicate and assemble in the cell cytoplasm.


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InternalMed_Harrison. dna viruses Medically important DNA viruses include parvoviruses, which have small single-strand DNA genomes and cause transient arthritis, and polyomaviruses, including the smaller polyomaviruses such as JC virus, which causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunocompromised patients; BK virus; and Merkel cell polyomavirus. The larger HPVs cause warts as well as cervical, penile, and oral carcinomas. The next larger DNA viruses are adenoviruses, which mostly cause transient respiratory tract and ocular inflammatory disease. The herpesviruses include eight viruses that cause a wide range of inflammatory and malignant diseases in humans. EBV is an important cause of lymphomas and Hodgkin’s disease in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent people and of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in southern Chinese and northern African populations. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important cause of transplacental infections and neonatal neurologic impairment. Poxviruses, the largest DNA


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InternalMed_Harrison. in southern Chinese and northern African populations. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important cause of transplacental infections and neonatal neurologic impairment. Poxviruses, the largest DNA viruses and the largest viruses that infect humans (barely visible by light microscopy), cause smallpox, monkeypox, and molluscum contagiosum. Aside from those of poxviruses, other DNA virus genomes enter the cell nucleus and are transcribed by cellular RNA polymerase II.


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InternalMed_Harrison. After receptor binding and fusion with plasma membranes or endocytic vesicle membranes, herpesvirus nucleocapsids are released into the cytoplasm with tegument proteins and are transported along microtubules to a nuclear pore. Capsids then release DNA into the nucleus.


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InternalMed_Harrison. DNA virus transcription and mRNA processing depend on both viral and cellular proteins. For herpes simplex virus (HSV), a viral tegument protein enters the nucleus and activates immediate-early genes, the first genes expressed after infection. Transcription of immediate-early genes requires the viral tegument protein and cell transcription factors. HSV becomes nonreplicating, or latent, in neurons because essential cell transcription factors for expression of viral immediate-early genes are docked in the cytoplasm in neurons. Heat shock or other cell stresses can cause these cell factors to enter the nucleus, activate viral gene expression, and initiate replication. This information explains HSV-1 latency in neurons and activation of replicative infection.


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InternalMed_Harrison. For adenoviruses and herpesviruses, transcription of immediate-early genes results in expression of early proteins necessary for viral DNA replication. Viral DNA synthesis is required to turn on late-gene expression and production of viral structural components. The HPVs, polyomaviruses, and parvoviruses are not dependent on transactivators encoded from the viral genome for early-gene transcription. Instead, their early genes have upstream enhancing elements that bind cell transcription factors. The early genes encode proteins that are necessary for viral DNA synthesis and late-gene transcription. DNA virus late genes encode structural proteins necessary for viral assembly and for viral egress from the infected cell. Late-gene transcription is continuously dependent on DNA replication. Therefore, inhibitors of DNA replication also stop late-gene transcription.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Each DNA virus family uses unique mechanisms for replicating its DNA. Adenovirus and herpesvirus DNAs are linear in the virion. Adenovirus DNA remains linear in infected cells and replicates as a linear genome, using an initiator protein–DNA complex. In contrast, herpesvirus DNA circularizes in the infected cell, and genomes replicate into linear concatemers through a “rolling-circle” mechanism. Full-length DNA genomes are cleaved and packaged into virus. Herpesviruses encode a DNA polymerase and at least six other viral proteins necessary for viral DNA replication. Acyclovir and ganciclovir prevent viral DNA synthesis when they are phosphorylated and incorporated into DNA by the viral polymerase. Herpesviruses also encode enzymes that increase the deoxynucleotide triphosphate pools. HPV and polyomavirus DNAs are circular both within the virus and in infected cells. These genomes are reproduced by cellular DNA replication enzymes and remain circular through replication and packaging.


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InternalMed_Harrison. and polyomavirus DNAs are circular both within the virus and in infected cells. These genomes are reproduced by cellular DNA replication enzymes and remain circular through replication and packaging. HPV and polyomavirus early proteins are necessary for DNA replication in both latent and viral replicative phases. Early viral proteins stimulate cells to remain in cycle, facilitating viral DNA replication.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Parvoviruses have negative single-strand DNA genomes and are the smallest DNA viruses. Their genomes are half the size of HPV genomes and include only two genes. The replication of autonomous parvoviruses, such as B19, depends on cellular DNA replication and requires the virus-encoded Rep protein. Other parvoviruses, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV), are not autonomous and require helper viruses of the adenovirus or herpesvirus family for their replication. AAV is being used as a potentially safe human gene therapy vector because its replication protein causes integration at a single chromosome site. The small genome size limits the range of proteins that can be expressed from AAV vectors.


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InternalMed_Harrison. As stated above, poxviruses are the largest DNA viruses. They are unique among DNA viruses in replicating and assembling in the cytoplasm. To accomplish cytoplasmic replication, poxviruses encode transcription factors, an RNA polymerase II orthologue, enzymes for RNA capping, enzymes for RNA polyadenylation, and enzymes for viral DNA synthesis. Poxvirus DNA also has a unique structure. The double-strand linear DNA is covalently linked at the ends, making a covalently closed double-strand circular genome. Replication of the circular genomes is initiated by nicking in inverted repeats at the ends of the linear DNA. During DNA replication, the genome is cleaved within the terminal inverted repeats, and the inverted repeats self-prime complementary-strand synthesis by the virus-encoded DNA polymerase. Like herpesviruses, poxviruses encode several enzymes that increase deoxynucleotide triphosphate precursor levels and thus facilitate viral DNA synthesis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. viruses that use both rna and dna genomes in their life cycle Retroviruses, including HIV, are RNA viruses that use a DNA intermediate to replicate their genomes. In contrast, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus that uses an RNA intermediate to replicate its genome. Thus these viruses are not purely RNA or DNA viruses. Retroviruses are RNA viruses with two identical sense-strand genomes and associated reverse transcriptase and integrase enzymes. Retroviruses differ from all other viruses in that they reverse-transcribe themselves into partially duplicated double-strand DNA copies and then routinely integrate into the host genome as part of their persistence and replication strategies. Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase (e.g., zidovudine) or integrase (e.g., raltegravir) are now commonly used as antiviral treatments for HIV infection. Integration of remnants and even complete copies of simple retrovirus DNAs into the human genome raises the possibility of replication-competent


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InternalMed_Harrison. used as antiviral treatments for HIV infection. Integration of remnants and even complete copies of simple retrovirus DNAs into the human genome raises the possibility of replication-competent simple human retroviruses. However, endogenous human retrovirus replication has not been documented or associated with any disease. Integrated, replication-competent retroviral DNAs are also present in many animal species, such as pigs. These porcine retroviruses are a potential cause for concern in xenotransplantation because retrovirus replication could cause disease in humans.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Cellular RNA polymerase II and transcription factors regulate transcription from the integrated provirus DNA genome. Some retroviruses also encode regulators of transcription and RNA processing, such as Tax and Rex in human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types 1 and 2. HIV-1 and HIV-2 have orthologous Tat and Rev genes as well as the additional accessory proteins Vpr, Vpu, and Vif, which are important for efficient infection and immune escape. Full-length pro-viral transcripts are made from a promoter in the viral terminal repeat and serve as both genome RNAs that are packaged in the nucleocapsids and differentially spliced mRNAs that encode for the virus Gag protein, polymerase/integrase protein, and envelope glycoprotein. The Gag protein includes a protease that cleaves it into several components, including a viral matrix protein that coats the viral RNA. Viral RNA polymerase/integrase, matrix protein, and cellular tRNAs are key components in the viral nucleocapsid. Protease inhibitors


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InternalMed_Harrison. including a viral matrix protein that coats the viral RNA. Viral RNA polymerase/integrase, matrix protein, and cellular tRNAs are key components in the viral nucleocapsid. Protease inhibitors have been developed as effective agents against infections caused by HIV (e.g., saquinavir) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) (e.g., telaprevir).


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InternalMed_Harrison. HBV replication is unique in several respects. The HBV genome is a partially double-strand DNA genome that is repaired in infected cells to a fully double-strand circular DNA by the virion polymerase. Viral mRNAs are transcribed from the closed circular viral episome by the cellular RNA polymerase II and are translated to yield HBV proteins, including core protein, surface antigen, and polymerase. In addition, a full-genome-length mRNA is packaged into viral core particles in the cytoplasm of infected cells as an intermediate for viral DNA replication. This RNA associates with the viral polymerase, which also has reverse transcriptase activity and converts the full-length encapsidated RNA genome into partially double-strand DNA. Thus, nucleos(t)ide analogs that inhibit reverse transcription (e.g., tenofovir) are commonly used to treat HBV infection. HBV is believed to mature by budding through the cell’s plasma membrane, which has been modified by the insertion of viral surface


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InternalMed_Harrison. (e.g., tenofovir) are commonly used to treat HBV infection. HBV is believed to mature by budding through the cell’s plasma membrane, which has been modified by the insertion of viral surface antigen protein.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viral Assembly and Egress For most viruses, nucleic acid and structural protein synthesis is accompanied by the assembly of protein and nucleic acid complexes. The assembly and egress of mature infectious virus mark the end of the eclipse phase of infection, during which infectious virus cannot be recovered from the infected cell. Nucleic acids from RNA viruses and poxviruses assemble into nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm. For all DNA viruses except poxviruses, viral DNA assembles into nucleocapsids in the nucleus. In general, the capsid proteins of viruses with icosahedral nucleocapsids can self-assemble into densely packed and highly ordered capsid structures. Herpesviruses require an assemblin protein as a scaffold for capsid assembly. Viral nucleic acid then spools into the assembled capsid. For herpesviruses, a full unit of the viral DNA genome is packaged into the capsid, and a capsid-associated nuclease cleaves the viral DNA at both ends. In the case of viruses with helical


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InternalMed_Harrison. capsid. For herpesviruses, a full unit of the viral DNA genome is packaged into the capsid, and a capsid-associated nuclease cleaves the viral DNA at both ends. In the case of viruses with helical nucleocapsids, the protein component appears to assemble around the nucleic acid, which contributes to capsid organization.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viruses must egress from the infected cell and not bind back to their receptor(s) on the outer surface of the plasma membrane. Viruses can acquire envelopes from cytoplasmic membranes or by budding through the cell’s plasma membrane. Excess viral membrane glycoproteins are synthesized to saturate cell receptors and facilitate separation of the virus from the infected cell. Some viruses encode membrane proteins with enzymatic activity for receptor destruction. Influenza virus, for example, encodes a glycoprotein with neuraminidase activity. Neuraminidase destroys sialic acid on the infected cell’s plasma membrane so that newly released virus does not get stuck to the dying cell. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are neuraminidase inhibitors that are used to treat or provide prophylaxis for influenza virus infection. Herpesvirus nucleocapsids acquire an initial envelope by assembling in the nucleus and then budding through the nuclear membrane into the endoplasmic reticular space. The initially


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InternalMed_Harrison. virus infection. Herpesvirus nucleocapsids acquire an initial envelope by assembling in the nucleus and then budding through the nuclear membrane into the endoplasmic reticular space. The initially enveloped herpesvirus is then de-enveloped and released from the cell either by exocytosis or by re-envelopment at the plasma membrane. Nonenveloped viruses depend on the death and dissolution of the infected cell for their release.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Hundreds or thousands of progeny may be produced from a single virus-infected cell. Many particles partially assemble and never mature into virions. Many mature-appearing virions are imperfect and have only incomplete or nonfunctional genomes. Despite the inefficiency of assembly, a typical virus-infected cell releases 10–1000 infectious progeny. Some of these progeny may contain genomes that differ from those of the virus that infected the cell. Smaller, “defective” viral genomes have been noted with the replication of many RNA and DNA viruses. Virions with defective genomes can be produced in large numbers through packaging of incompletely synthesized nucleic acid. Adenovirus packaging is notoriously inefficient, and a high ratio of particle to infectious virus may limit the amount of recombinant adenovirus that can be administered for gene therapy since the immunogenicity of defective particles may contribute to adverse effects.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Changes in viral genomes can lead to mutant viruses of medical significance. In general, viral nucleic acid replication is more error-prone than cellular nucleic acid replication. RNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases are significantly more error-prone than DNA polymerases. Mutations can also be introduced into the HIV genome by APOBEC3G, a cellular protein that is packaged in the virion. APOBEC3G deaminates cytidine in the virion RNA to uridine. When reverse transcriptase subsequently uses the altered virion RNA as a template in the infected cell, a guanosine-to-adenosine mutation is introduced into the proviral DNA. Mutations resulting in less efficient viral growth, or fitness, may be detrimental to the virus. HIV-encoded Vif blocks APOBEC3G activity in the virion, inhibiting the debilitating effects of hypermutation on genetic integrity. Nevertheless, mutations resulting in evasion of the host immune response or resistance to antiviral drugs are preferentially selected in


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InternalMed_Harrison. debilitating effects of hypermutation on genetic integrity. Nevertheless, mutations resulting in evasion of the host immune response or resistance to antiviral drugs are preferentially selected in patients, with the consequent perpetuation of infection. Viral genomes can also be altered by recombination or reassortment between two related viruses in a single infected cell. Although this occurrence is unusual under most circumstances of natural infection, the genome changes can be substantial and can significantly alter virulence or epidemiology. Reassortment of the avian or mammalian influenza A hemagglutinin gene into a human influenza background can result in the emergence of new epidemic or pandemic influenza A strains.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Viruses frequently have genes encoding proteins that are not directly involved in replication or packaging of the viral nucleic acid, in virion assembly, or in regulation of the transcription of viral genes involved in those processes. Most of these proteins fall into five classes: can be efficiently transcribed or translated; (3) proteins that promote cell survival or inhibit apoptosis so that progeny virus can mature and escape from the infected cell; (4) proteins that inhibit the host interferon response; and (5) proteins that downregulate host inflammatory or immune responses so that viral infection can proceed in an infected person to the extent consistent with the survival of the virus and its efficient transmission to a new host. More complex viruses of the poxvirus or herpesvirus family encode many proteins that serve these functions. Some of these viral proteins have motifs similar to those of cellular proteins, while others are quite novel. Virology has increasingly focused


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InternalMed_Harrison. family encode many proteins that serve these functions. Some of these viral proteins have motifs similar to those of cellular proteins, while others are quite novel. Virology has increasingly focused on these more sophisticated strategies evolved by viruses to permit the establishment of long-term infection in humans and other animals. These strategies often provide unique insights into the control of cell growth, cell survival, macromolecular synthesis, proteolytic processing, immune or inflammatory suppression, immune resistance, cytokine mimicry, or cytokine blockade.


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InternalMed_Harrison. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by targeting— and usually silencing—mRNAs. miRNAs were initially discovered in plants and plant viruses, where they alter expression of cell defensins. Herpesviruses are especially rich in miRNAs; for example, at least 23 miRNAs have been identified in EBV and 11 in CMV. Adenovirus and polyomavirus miRNAs have also been described. Increasing data indicate that animal viruses encode miRNAs to alter the growth and survival of host cells and the innate and acquired immune responses.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The concept of host range was originally based on the cell types in which a virus replicates in tissue culture. For the most part, the host range is limited by specific cell-surface proteins required for viral adsorption or penetration—i.e., to the cell types that express receptors or co-receptors for a specific virus. Another common basis for host-range limitation is the degree of transcriptional activity from viral promoters in different cell types. Most DNA viruses depend not only on cellular RNA polymerase II and the basal components of the cellular transcription complex but also on activated components and transcriptional accessory factors, both of which differ among differentiated tissues, among cells at various phases of the cell cycle, and between resting and cycling cells.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The importance of host range factors is illustrated by the effects of specific host determinants that limit the replication of influenza virus with avian or porcine hemagglutinins in humans. These viral proteins have adapted to bind avian or porcine sialic acids, and spread of avian or porcine influenza viruses in human populations is limited by their ability to infect human cells.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The replication of almost all viruses has adverse effects on the infected cell, inhibiting cellular synthesis of DNA, RNA, or proteins through efficient competition for key substrates and enzymatic processes. These general inhibitory effects enable viruses to nonspecifically limit components of innate host resistance, such as interferon (IFN) production. Viruses can specifically inhibit host protein synthesis by attacking a component of the translational initiation complex— frequently, a component that is not required for efficient translation of viral RNAs. Poliovirus protease 2A, for example, cleaves a cellular component of the complex that ordinarily facilitates translation of cellular mRNAs by interacting with their cap structure. Poliovirus RNA is efficiently translated without a cap because it has an internal ribosome entry sequence. Influenza virus inhibits the processing of mRNA by snatching cap structures from nascent cellular RNAs and using them as primers in the synthesis


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InternalMed_Harrison. because it has an internal ribosome entry sequence. Influenza virus inhibits the processing of mRNA by snatching cap structures from nascent cellular RNAs and using them as primers in the synthesis of viral mRNA. HSV has a virion tegument protein that inhibits cellular mRNA translation.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Apoptosis is the expected consequence of virus-induced inhibition of cellular macromolecular synthesis and viral nucleic acid replication. Although the induction of apoptosis may be important for the release of some viruses (particularly nonenveloped viruses), many viruses have acquired genes or parts of genes that enable them to forestall infected-cell death. This delay increases the yield from viral replication. Adenoviruses and herpesviruses encode analogues of the cellular Bc12 protein, which block mitochondrial enhancement of proapoptotic stimuli. Poxviruses and some herpesviruses also encode caspase inhibitors. Many viruses, including HPVs and adenoviruses, encode proteins that inhibit p53 or its downstream proapoptotic effects.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The capsid and envelope of a virus protect the genome and enable efficient transmission of the virus from cell to cell and to new prospective hosts. Most common viral infections are spread by direct contact, by ingestion of contaminated water or food, or by inhalation of aerosolized particles. In all these situations, infection begins on an epithelial or mucosal surface and spreads along the mucosa and into deeper tissues. Infection may spread to cells that can enter blood vessels, lymphatics, or neural circuits. HBV, HCV, HTLV, and HIV are dependent on transmission by parenteral inoculation. Some viruses are transmitted only between humans. The dependence of smallpox virus and poliovirus infections on interhuman transmission makes it feasible to eliminate these viruses from human circulation by mass vaccination. Herpesviruses also survive by interhuman transmission but may be more difficult to eliminate because they establish persistent latent infection in humans and continuously


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InternalMed_Harrison. by mass vaccination. Herpesviruses also survive by interhuman transmission but may be more difficult to eliminate because they establish persistent latent infection in humans and continuously reactivate to infect new and naïve generations.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Animals are also important reservoirs and vectors for transmission of viruses causing human disease. Insect vectors can mediate parenteral transfer of viruses that reach high titers in animal or human hosts. Arboviruses are parenterally transmitted from mammalian species to humans by mosquito vectors. Herpes B, monkeypox, rabies, and viral hemorrhagic fevers are other examples of zoonotic infections caused by direct contact with animals, animal tissues, or arthropod vectors.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Initial viral infections usually last for several days or weeks. During this period, the concentration of virus at sites of infection rises and then falls, usually to unmeasurable levels. The rise and fall of viral replication at a given site depend on local innate immune responses and the access of systemic antibody and cell immune effectors to the virus. Typically, primary infections with enteroviruses, mumps virus, measles virus, rubella virus, rotavirus, influenza virus, AAV, adenovirus, HSV, and VZV are cleared from almost all sites within 3–4 weeks. Some viruses are especially proficient in altering or evading innate and acquired immune responses. Primary infection with AAV, EBV, or CMV can last for several months. Characteristically, primary infections due to HBV, HCV, hepatitis D virus (HDV), HIV, HPV, and molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) extend beyond several weeks. For some of these viruses (e.g., HPV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and MCV), the manifestations of primary infection are


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. D virus (HDV), HIV, HPV, and molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) extend beyond several weeks. For some of these viruses (e.g., HPV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and MCV), the manifestations of primary infection are almost indistinguishable from the persistent phase.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Disease manifestations usually arise as a consequence of viral replication, infected-cell injury or death, and local inflammatory and innate immune responses. Disease severity may not necessarily correlate with the level of viral replication alone. For example, the clinical manifestations of intense primary infection with poliovirus, enterovirus, rabies virus, measles virus, mumps virus, or HSV at mucosal surfaces may be inapparent or relatively mild, whereas limited replication in neural cells can have dramatic consequences. Similarly, rubella virus or CMV infections in utero or neonatal HSV infections may have much more devastating effects than infections in adults.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Primary infections are cleared by nonspecific innate and specific adaptive immune responses. Thereafter, an immunocompetent host is usually immune to the disease manifestations of reinfection by the same virus. Immunity frequently does not prevent transient surface colonization on reexposure, persistent colonization, or even limited deeper infection.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Relatively few viruses cause persistent or latent infections. HBV, HCV, rabies virus, measles virus, HIV, HTLV, HPV, HHVs, and MCV are notable exceptions. The mechanisms for persistent infection vary. HCV RNA polymerase and HIV reverse transcriptase are error-prone and generate variant genomes. Genome variation can be sufficient to permit evasion of host immune responses, thereby allowing persistent infection. HIV is also directly immunosuppressive, depleting CD4+ T lymphocytes and compromising CD8+ cytotoxic T cell immune responsiveness. Moreover, HIV encodes the Nef protein, which downmodulates MHC class I expression, rendering HIV-infected cells partially resistant to immune CD8+ T cell lysis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. DNA viruses have low mutation rates. Their persistence in human populations usually depends on their ability to establish latent infection in some cells, to reactivate from latency, and then to replicate at epithelial surfaces. Latency is defined as a state of infection in which virus is not replicating, viral genes associated with lytic infection are not expressed, and infectious virus is not made. The complete viral genome is present and may be replicated by cellular DNA polymerase in conjunction with replication of the cell’s genome. HPVs establish latent infection in basal epithelial cells. The latently infected basal cell replicates, along with the HPV episome, by using cellular DNA polymerase. Some of the progeny cells provide new latently infected basal cells, whereas others go on to squamous differentiation. Infected cells that differentiate to squamous cells become permissive for lytic viral infection. Herpesviruses establish latent infection in nonreplicating neural cells


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InternalMed_Harrison. to squamous differentiation. Infected cells that differentiate to squamous cells become permissive for lytic viral infection. Herpesviruses establish latent infection in nonreplicating neural cells (HSV and VZV) or in replicating cells of hematopoietic lineages (EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, and Kaposi’s sarcoma–associated herpesvirus [KSHV, also known as HHV-8]). In their latent stage, HPV and herpesvirus genomes are largely hidden from the normal immune response. Reactivated HPV and herpesvirus infections escape immediate and effective immune responses in highly immune hosts by inhibiting host innate immune and inflammatory responses. In addition, HPV, HSV, and VZV are somewhat protected because they replicate in the middle and upper layers of the squamous epithelium—sites not routinely visited by cells that mediate or amplify immune and inflammatory responses. HSV and CMV are also known to encode proteins that downregulate MHC class I expression and antigenic peptide presentation,


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InternalMed_Harrison. visited by cells that mediate or amplify immune and inflammatory responses. HSV and CMV are also known to encode proteins that downregulate MHC class I expression and antigenic peptide presentation, enabling infected cells to escape recognition by and cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T lymphocytes.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Like other poxviruses, MCV cannot establish latent infection. This virus causes persistent infection in hypertrophic skin lesions that last for months or years. MCV encodes a chemokine homologue that probably blocks inflammatory responses, an MHC class I analogue that blocks cytotoxic T lymphocyte attack, and inhibitors of cell death that prolong infected-cell viability. Persistent viral infection is estimated to be the root cause of as many as 20% of human malignancies. Cancer is an accidental and highly unusual or long-term effect of oncogenic human viral infection. With most “oncogenic viruses,” infection is a critical and ultimately determinative early step in carcinogenesis. Latent HPV infection can block cell death and cause cervical cells to proliferate. A virus-infected cell with an integrated HPV genome overexpressing E6 and E7 undergoes subsequent cellular genetic changes that enhance autonomous malignant cell growth.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Most hepatocellular carcinoma is believed to be caused by chronic inflammatory, immune, and regenerative responses to HBV or HCV infection. Epidemiologic data firmly link HBV and HCV infections to hepatocellular carcinoma. These infections elicit repetitive cycles of virus-induced liver injury followed by tissue repair and regeneration. Over decades, chronic viral infection, repetitive tissue regeneration, and acquired chromosomal changes can result in proliferative nodules. Further chromosomal mutations can lead to the degeneration of cells in a proliferating nodule into hepatocellular carcinoma. In rare instances, HBV DNA integrates into cellular DNA, promoting overexpression of a cell gene that can also contribute to oncogenesis.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Most cervical carcinoma is caused by persistent infection with “highrisk” HPV type 16 or 18. In contrast to HBV and HCV infections, which stimulate cell growth as a consequence of virus-induced cell death, HPV type 16 or 18 proteins E6 and E7 destroy p53 and pRB, respectively. Elimination of these key tumor-suppressive cell proteins increases cell growth, cell survival, and cell genome instability. However, like HBV and HCV infections, HPV infection alone is not sufficient for carcinogenesis. Cervical carcinoma is inevitably associated with persistent HPV infection and integration of the HPV genome into chromosomal DNA. Integrations that result in overexpression of E6 and E7 from HPV type 16 or 18 cause more profound changes in cell growth and survival and permit subsequent chromosomal changes that result in cervical carcinoma.


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InternalMed_Harrison. EBV is the most unusual oncogenic virus in that normal B cell infection results in latency with expression of viral proteins that can cause endless B lymphocyte growth. In almost all humans, strong CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses to the antigenic EBV latent-infection nuclear proteins prevent uncontrolled B cell lymphoproliferation. However, when humans are severely immunosuppressed by transplantation-associated medication, HIV infection, or genetic immune deficiencies, EBV-induced B cell malignancies can emerge.


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InternalMed_Harrison. EBV infection also has a role in the long-term development of B lymphocyte and epithelial cell malignancies. Persistent EBV infection with expression of an EBV latency-associated integral membrane protein (LMP1) in latently infected epithelial cells appears to be a critical early step in the evolution of anaplastic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a common malignancy in populations in southern China and northern Africa. Genomic instability and chromosomal abnormalities also contribute to the development of EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV is an important cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. High-level expression of LMP1 or LMP2 in Reed-Sternberg cells is a hallmark in up to 50% of Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases. LMP1-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity may prolong the survival of defective B cells that are normally eliminated by apoptosis, thereby allowing other genetic changes leading to the development of malignant Reed-Sternberg cells.


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InternalMed_Harrison. The HTLV-1 Tax and Rex proteins are critical to the initiation of cutaneous adult T cell lymphoma/leukemias that occur long after primary HTLV-1 infection. Tax-induced NF-κB activation may contribute to cytokine production, infected-cell survival, and eventual outgrowth of malignant cells. Molecular data confirm the presence of KSHV DNA in all Kaposi’s tumors, including those associated with HIV infection, transplantation, and familial transmission. KSHV infection is also etiologically implicated in pleural-effusion lymphomas and multicentric Castleman’s disease, which are more common among HIV-infected than among HIV-uninfected people. KSHV also has a virus-encoded cyclin, an IFN regulatory factor, and a latency-associated nuclear antigen that are implicated in increased-cell proliferation and survival.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Evidence supporting a causal role for viral infection in all of these malignancies includes (1) epidemiologic data, (2) the presence of viral DNA in all tumor cells, (3) the ability of the viruses to transform human cells in culture, (4) the results of in vitro cell culture–based assays that reveal transforming effects of specific viral genes on cell growth or survival, (5) pathologic data indicating the expression of transforming viral genes in premalignant or malignant cells in vivo, (6) the demonstration in animal models that these viral genes can cause malignant cell growth, and (7) the ability of virus-specific vaccines to reduce the incidence of virus-associated malignancy.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. Virus-related malignancies provide an opportunity to expand our understanding of the biologic mechanisms important in the development of cancer. They also offer unique opportunities to develop diagnostics, vaccines, or therapeutics that could prevent or specifically treat cancers associated with viral infection. Widespread immunization against hepatitis B has resulted in a decreased prevalence of HBV-associated hepatitis and will probably prevent most HBV-related liver cancers. Current HPV vaccines can reduce rates of colonization with high-risk HPV strains and thereby decrease the risk of cervical cancer. The successful use of in vitro–expanded EBV-specific T cell populations to treat or prevent EBV-associated posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease demonstrates the potential of immunoprevention or immunotherapy against virus-associated cancers.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Resistance to viral infections is initially provided by factors that are not virus-specific. Physical protection is afforded by the cornified layers of the skin and by mucous secretions that continuously sweep over mucosal surfaces. Once the first cell is infected, IFNs are induced and confer resistance to RNA virus replication. Viral infection may also trigger the release of other cytokines from infected cells. These cytokines may be chemotactic to inflammatory and immune cells. Viral protein epitopes expressed on the cell surface in the context of MHC class I and II proteins can stimulate the expansion of T cell populations with receptors that can recognize virus-encoded peptides presented on the cell surface by MHC class I proteins. Cytokines and antigens released by virus-induced cell death further attract inflammatory cells, dendritic cells, granulocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and B lymphocytes to sites of infection and to draining lymph nodes. IFNs and NK cells are


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InternalMed_Harrison. cell death further attract inflammatory cells, dendritic cells, granulocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and B lymphocytes to sites of infection and to draining lymph nodes. IFNs and NK cells are particularly important in containing viral infection for the first several days. Granulocytes and macrophages are also important in the phagocytosis and degradation of viruses, especially after an initial antibody response.


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InternalMed_Harrison. By 7–10 days after infection, virus-specific antibody responses, virus-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II–restricted CD4+ helper T lymphocyte responses, and virus-specific HLA class I–restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses develop. These responses, whose magnitude typically increases over the second and third weeks of infection, are important for rapid recovery. Also between the second and third weeks, the antibody type usually changes from IgM to IgG; IgG or IgA antibody can then be detected at infected mucosal surfaces. Antibody may directly neutralize virus by binding to its surface and preventing cell attachment or penetration. Complement can significantly enhance antibody-mediated virus neutralization. Antibody and complement can also lyse virus-infected cells that express viral membrane proteins on the cell surface. Cells infected with a replicating enveloped virus usually express the virus-envelope glycoproteins on the cell plasma membrane. Specific


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InternalMed_Harrison. that express viral membrane proteins on the cell surface. Cells infected with a replicating enveloped virus usually express the virus-envelope glycoproteins on the cell plasma membrane. Specific antibodies can bind to the glycoproteins, fix complement, and lyse the infected cell.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Antibody and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte responses to viral infection can remain at high levels for several months after primary infection but usually wane over time. Low-level persistence of antibody-producing B lymphocytes and CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocyte responses as memory cells can provide a rapid response to a second infection or an early barrier to reinfection with the same virus. Redevelopment of T cell immunity may take longer than secondary antibody responses, particularly when many years have elapsed between primary infection and reexposure. However, persistent infections or frequent reactivations from latency can result in sustained high-level T cell responses. EBV and CMV typically induce high-level CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that are maintained for decades after primary infection.


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InternalMed_Harrison. Some viruses have genes that alter innate and acquired host defenses. Adenoviruses encode small RNAs that inhibit IFN-induced, protein kinase R (PKR)–mediated shutoff of infected-cell protein synthesis. Adenovirus E1A can also directly inhibit IFN-mediated changes in cell gene transcription. Moreover, adenovirus E3 proteins prevent tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–induced cytolysis and block HLA class I synthesis by the infected cell. HSV ICP47 and CMV US11 also block class I antigen presentation. EBV encodes an interleukin (IL) 10 homologue that inhibits NK and T cell responses. Vaccinia virus encodes a soluble receptor for IFN-α and binding proteins for IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-18, and TNF, which inhibit host innate and adaptive immune responses. Vaccinia virus also encodes a caspase inhibitor that inhibits the ability of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to kill virus-infected cells. Some poxviruses and herpes-viruses encode chemokine-binding proteins that inhibit cell inflammatory responses. The adoption


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InternalMed_Harrison. the ability of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to kill virus-infected cells. Some poxviruses and herpes-viruses encode chemokine-binding proteins that inhibit cell inflammatory responses. The adoption of these strategies by viruses highlights the importance of the corresponding host resistance factors in containing viral infection and the importance of redundancy in host resistance.


InternalMed_Harrison

InternalMed_Harrison. The host inflammatory and immune responses to viral infection do not come without a price. These responses contribute to the symptoms, signs, and other pathophysiologic manifestations of viral infection. Inflammation at sites of viral infection can subvert an effective immune response and induce tissue death and dysfunction. Moreover, immune responses to viral infection could, in principle, result in immune attack upon cross-reactive epitopes on normal cells, with consequent autoimmunity.


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InternalMed_Harrison. All human cells can synthesize IFN-α or IFN-β in response to viral infection. These IFN responses are usually induced by the presence of double-strand viral RNA, which can be made by both RNA and DNA viruses and sensed by double-strand RNA binding proteins (e.g., PKR and RIG-I) in the cell cytoplasm. IFN-γ is not closely related to IFN-α or IFN-β and is produced mainly by NK cells and by immune T lymphocytes responding to IL-12. IFN-α and -β bind to the IFN-α receptor, whereas IFN-γ binds to a different but related receptor. Both receptors signal through receptor-associated JAK kinases and other cytoplasmic proteins, including “STAT” proteins, which are tyrosinephosphorylated by JAK kinases, translocate to the nucleus, and activate promoters for specific cell genes. Three types of antiviral effects are induced by IFN at the transcriptional level. The first effect is attributable to the induction of 2′-5′ oligo(A) synthetases, which require double-strand RNA for their activation.


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InternalMed_Harrison. effects are induced by IFN at the transcriptional level. The first effect is attributable to the induction of 2′-5′ oligo(A) synthetases, which require double-strand RNA for their activation. Activated synthetase polymerizes oligo(A) and thereby activates RNAse L, which in turn degrades single-strand RNA. A second effect results from the induction of PKR, a serine and threonine kinase that is also activated by double-strand RNA. PKR phosphorylates and negatively regulates the translational initiation factor eIF2α, shutting down protein synthesis in the infected cell. A third effect is initiated through the induction of Mx proteins, a family of GTPases that is particularly important in inhibiting the replication of influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. These IFN effects are mostly directed against the infected cell, causing virus and cell dysfunction and thereby limiting viral replication.


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InternalMed_Harrison. A wide variety of methods are used to diagnose viral infection. Serology and virus isolation in tissue culture remain important standards. Acuteand convalescent-phase sera with rising titers of antibody to virus-specific antigens and a shift from IgM to IgG antibodies are generally accepted as diagnostic of acute viral infection. Serologic diagnosis is based on a more than fourfold rise in IgG antibody concentration when acuteand convalescent-phase serum samples are analyzed at the same time.