Viruses 2018, 10(12), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/v10120730
Simultaneous Detection of Beta and Gamma Human Herpesviruses by Multiplex qPCR Reveals Simple Infection and Coinfection Episodes Increasing Risk for Graft Rejection in Solid Organ Transplantation
Yessica Sánchez-Ponce 1,2, Gustavo Varela-Fascinetto 3, José Carlos Romo-Vázquez 4, Briceida López-Martínez 5, José Luis Sánchez-Huerta 6
, Israel Parra-Ortega 6, Ezequiel M. Fuentes-Pananá 1,† and Abigail Morales-Sánchez 1,†,*
, Israel Parra-Ortega 6, Ezequiel M. Fuentes-Pananá 1,† and Abigail Morales-Sánchez 1,†,*
1
Research Unit in Virology and Cancer, Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico
2
Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
3
Department of Transplantation, Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico
4
Department of Nephrology, Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico
5
Subdirection of Diagnostic Auxiliary Services, Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico
6
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gómez, 06720 Mexico City, Mexico
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 21 September 2018 / Revised: 3 December 2018 / Accepted: 6 December 2018 / Published: 19 December 2018
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Viruses)
Abstract
Herpesviruses are common components of the human microbiome that become clinically relevant when a competent immunosurveillance is compromised, such as in transplantation. Members of the beta and gamma subfamilies are associated with a wide diversity of pathologies, including end-organ disease and cancer. In this study, we developed a multiplex qPCR technique with high specificity, sensitivity, efficiency and predictability that allowed the simultaneous detection and quantification of beta and gamma human herpesviruses. The technique was tested in a cohort of 34 kidney- or liver-transplanted pediatric patients followed up for up to 12 months post-transplant. Viral load was determined in 495 leukocyte-plasma paired samples collected bi-weekly or monthly. Human herpesvirus (HHV) 7 was the herpesvirus most frequently found in positive samples (39%), followed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (20%). Also, EBV and HHV7 were present in the majority of coinfection episodes (62%). The share of positive samples exclusively detected either in leukocytes or plasma was 85%, suggesting that these herpesviruses tended to take a latent or lytic path in an exclusive manner. Infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and HHV6, as well as coinfection by EBV/HHV7 and EBV/HHV6/HHV7, were associated with graft rejection (RR = 40.33 (p = 0.0013), 5.60 (p = 0.03), 5.60 (p = 0.03) and 17.64 (p = 0.0003), respectively). The routine monitoring of beta and gamma herpesviruses should be mandatory in transplant centers to implement preventive strategies. View Full-TextKeywords:
human herpesviruses; transplantation; coinfection; graft rejection
▼
Figures
Figure 1
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Share & Cite This Article
MDPI and ACS Style
Sánchez-Ponce, Y.; Varela-Fascinetto, G.; Romo-Vázquez, J.C.; López-Martínez, B.; Sánchez-Huerta, J.L.; Parra-Ortega, I.; Fuentes-Pananá, E.M.; Morales-Sánchez, A. Simultaneous Detection of Beta and Gamma Human Herpesviruses by Multiplex qPCR Reveals Simple Infection and Coinfection Episodes Increasing Risk for Graft Rejection in Solid Organ Transplantation. Viruses 2018, 10, 730.
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.