Key To Keeping Killer T Cells In Prime Shape For Fighting Infection, Cancer Dec 3, 2008
The researchers made their discoveries in a mouse model of chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. They had earlier found that a receptor known as programmed death-1 (PD-1) was highly expressed by exhausted T cells from chronically infected mice but not from mice that had cleared the infection. (Science Daily)
New Cause Of Fatal Brain Injury From Acute Viral Meningitis Nov 22, 2008
In this study, investigators looked at what happens in the brain of mice exposed to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a virus that can also infect humans, but which does not cause a lot of damage on its own. Instead, the virus pushes an immune response that, in itself, is damaging because it results in "leaky" blood vessels in the meninges at the blood-brain border. (Science Daily)
SIGA to Present ST-246 to the World Health Organization Nov 12, 2008
Source: SIGA Technologies, Inc.. NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SIGA Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqCM: - ), a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight bio-warfare pathogens today announced that Dr. Dennis E. Hruby, SIGA's Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting SIGA's progress in developing its lead drug candidate, ST-246, an antiviral for smallpox and other orthopoxviruses, to the World Health Organization (WHO) Advisory Committee on Variola Virus... (Primezone Releases)
A new strain of virus Nov 8, 2008
Arenavirus is a large family of viruses that include the germs that cause Lassa fever and the mouse-borne lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. The virus causes haemorrhagic disease, meaning it can cause internal and external bleeding. (iAfrica.com)
Mechanism Behind Immune System Suppression may Harbour HIV Cure Oct 20, 2008
The research team led by Elina Zuniga, formerly a postdoctoral fellow in the Oldstone lab, worked with mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. They found that the virus suppressed the mouse immune system by interacting with immune cells known as plamacytoid dendritic cells, which are key producers of one of two critical groups of interferons, known as type I.. (MedIndia)
Scripps research team sheds light on immune system suppression Oct 18, 2008
The study described the suppression of this immune response in mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, pointing to potential new avenues for the development of drug treatments for immunosuppressive diseases in humans ... To better understand this system, the Scripps Research team, spearheaded by Elina Zuniga, formerly a postdoctoral fellow in the Oldstone lab who is now assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, worked with mice infected with lymphocytic... (EurekAlert!)
8 Pets That Pose Major Health Threats to Kids Oct 7, 2008
They're carriers of salmonella and have sparked outbreaks of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a virus that causes and can lead to permanent nerve damage. Hedgehogs. (U.S. News & World Report)
Researchers Invigorate 'Exhausted' Immune Cells Sep 19, 2008
In the current study, Wherry and colleagues tested in mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus the effect of plugging the PD-1 receptor with the antibody, thus releasing the "brake" on the immune system. And they studied two different subsets of killer T cells: those with the highest expression of PD-1 receptors and ones with an "intermediate" expression. (Science Daily)
MS drug may work against viral infection: study Aug 14, 2008
They tested the drug against a mouse virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis, which causes chronic infections by escaping immune responses. "In the absence of treatment (with FTY720) we have an exhausted immune response. In the presence of treatment, we regain a robust cellular immune response," Altman said. (Scientific American)
Trapping White Blood Cells Proves Novel Strategy Against Chronic Viral Infections Aug 14, 2008
Standard black laboratory mice can fight off infection by the Armstrong strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), but are vulnerable to chronic infection by a variant called clone 13. Altman and his co-workers found that infecting mice with the Armstrong strain sequesters white blood cells in the lymph nodes, while clone 13 does so less stringently. (Science Daily)
SIGA Technologies to Announce Second Quarter 2008 Results of Operations on August 12, 2008 Aug 5, 2008
SIGA has antiviral programs targeting smallpox and other Category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg). For more information about SIGA, please visit SIGA's Web site at. (Primezone Releases)
A New Arenavirus in Transplantation Jun 12, 2008
First, the characterized virus is simply lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), its nucleotide sequence lying well within the range of variability for the species as defined by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) for this virus. Second, diagnostic tests for LCMV (polymerase chain reaction, serologic tests, or viral isolation) would undoubtedly have detected the agent, had these tests been used on initial screening. (New England Journal of Medicine)
1 dies, 1 ill after receiving kidneys May 13, 2008
The donor, a 49-year-old homeless man who suffered irreversible brain damage after cardiac arrest, carried a germ called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, or LCMV, the same infection that killed three transplant patients from Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 2005 ... But the lack of quick tests for less common conditions prevents screening for diseases such as the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. (Boston Globe)
Widow sues pet store in Whitman man's death Apr 17, 2008
The lawsuit, filed in US District Court last week, said a pathology report on Magee's autopsy lists the cause of death as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a viral infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The virus, which is found in house mice, hamsters, and other rodents, usually causes only flu-like symptoms in humans, but can be serious and even fatal in people with compromised immune systems. (Boston Globe)
PetSmart sued in death by hamster virus Apr 17, 2008
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court last week, said a pathology report on Magee's autopsy lists the cause of death as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a viral infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Today in Business with Reuters. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Widow sues Petsmart over husband's death Apr 11, 2008
In papers filed in the state court, Nancy Magee charged that a Petsmart in Warwick, Rhode Island in March 2005 sold a hamster infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, or LCMV, to a woman not named in the suit. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Health)
A New Arenavirus in a Cluster of Fatal Transplant-Associated Diseases Mar 6, 2008
Additional sequence analysis showed that this new arenavirus was related to lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses. Specific PCR assays based on a unique sequence confirmed the presence of the virus in the kidneys, liver, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid of the recipients. (New England Journal of Medicine)
New Genetic Technology IDs Virus That Killed Transplant Recipients Feb 8, 2008
A previous transplant mystery, in which seven U.S. recipients died in 2003 and 2005, was eventually solved with identification of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which is carried by hamsters and other rodents. The newly identified arenavirus is related to LCMV.. (MEDLINEplus)
New virus kills 3 Australian transplant patients Feb 7, 2008
The as-yet-unnamed virus appears to be related to a bug called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which usually causes only a minor flu-like illness ... The RNA resembled the RNA from a type of virus known as an arenavirus, specifically lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus or LCMV, known to cause transplant-related disease and birth defects in addition to mild flu-like illness in healthy people. (Globe and Mail)
Scientists confirm new virus responsible for deaths of transplant recipients in Australia Feb 7, 2008
The arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) has been implicated in a small number of cases of disease transmission by organ transplantation, however, the newly discovered virus, which may be a new strain of LCMV, is sufficiently different that it could not be detected using existing screening methods. High throughput sequencing and methods for cloning nucleic acids of microbial agents directly from clinical samples offer powerful tools for pathogen surveillance and discovery,... (EurekAlert!)
Infectious Diseases after Solid-Organ Transplantation Dec 20, 2007
New quantitative molecular and antigen-based microbiologic assays detect previously unrecognized transplantation-associated pathogens such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. These assays are used in the. (New England Journal of Medicine)
SIGA Completes 21 Day Multi-Dose Human Clinical Safety and Dose-Ranging Trial of Its Lead Smallpox Drug ST-246 Dec 6, 2007
In addition to smallpox, SIGA has antiviral programs targeting other Category A viral pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg) ... In addition to smallpox, SIGA has antiviral programs targeting other Category A pathogens, including arenaviruses (Lassa fever, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis), dengue virus, and the filoviruses (Ebola... (Primezone Releases)
Green Thoughts: Trapper David, M.S. Nov 21, 2007
This keeps pathogens, including hantaviruses and LCM (lymphocytic choriomeningitis), damped down. Funny how Disney forgot to put this part in the movies. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Chronic Infection Persists By Targeting Stromal Cell Network In Lymphoid Organs Sep 22, 2007
Using a mouse model, the scientists found that a chronic strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) targeted a type of stromal cells in the lymphoid organs called fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC). In contrast, an acute strain of the virus had little effect on the FRC cells. (Science Daily)
New virus found in transplant patients Apr 26, 2007
Australian officials say the infection is similar to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, which has been linked to the deaths of several transplant patients in the US.. "I'm very pleased that out of a sad episode we've been able to draw some conclusions and find something new in a world first," says Dr Mike Catton from the. (ABC Online)
Organ virus deaths spark new tests Apr 25, 2007
The laboratory enlisted the help of the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory at New York's Columbia University, where new gene sequencing techniques uncovered a link to the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Further testing on tissue samples from the three patients confirmed a new type of arenavirus, a family of mainly rodent viruses that occasionally affect humans. (The Age)
Bug deaths could increase Apr 23, 2007
April 23, 2007 12:00am. A MYSTERY virus that killed three Victorian organ transplant recipients may have caused other deaths. (NEWS.com.au)
Australian scientists discover new virus Apr 22, 2007
It discovered a tiny piece of gene sequence related to the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which had killed several transplant recipients in the US several years ago. LCMV is part of the arena family of viruses, which are rodent viruses that occasionally infect humans. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
