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Human Herpesvirus 6: Basic Biology and Clinical Associations

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Medical Virology 9

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Abstract

The recognition of a new herpesvirus was announced to the world by Salahuddin et al. (1986) from the National Cancer Institute, NIH. These investigators were involved in studies of the mechanisms regulating human hematopoiesis, especially defects leading to malignancy. In these studies, mononuclear cells from patients with various lymphoproliferative disorders were established in culture, and occasionally short-lived, large, refractile cells, containing intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were observed. Electron microscopic (EM) examination demonstrated herpes-type virus particles in these cultures. Unenveloped icosahedral nucleocapsids developed in the nucleus and enveloped virions were seen in cytoplasmic vesicles, cisternae and at the cell surface (Figure 1). The original six isolates, from four leukemia and lymphoma patients and two lymphadenopathy patients, were similar antigenically, but differed markedly from the other human herpesviruses. Because B-cell surface markers were detected on infected cells, the virus was called human B-lymphotropic virus (HBLV). Infection with the virus seemed rare, as only 4 of 220 serum specimens from normal donors were weakly positive by immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Viral Exanthems and Herpesviruses Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    John A. Stewart

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  1. Irvine Medical Center, University of California, Orange, California, USA

    Luis M. de la Maza  & Ellena M. Peterson  & 

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Stewart, J.A. (1991). Human Herpesvirus 6: Basic Biology and Clinical Associations. In: de la Maza, L.M., Peterson, E.M. (eds) Medical Virology 9. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5856-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5856-5_9

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