Serodiagnosis for Tumor Viruses

Abstract

The known human tumor viruses include the DNA viruses Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B virus. RNA tumor viruses include Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 and hepatitis C virus. The serological identification of antigens/antibodies in plasma serum is a rapidly progressing field with utility for both scientists and clinicians. Serology is useful for conducting seroepidemiology studies and to inform on the pathogenesis and host immune response to a particular viral agent. Clinically, serology is useful for diagnosing current or past infection and for aiding in clinical management decisions. Serology is useful for screening blood donations for infectious agents and for monitoring the outcome of vaccination against these viruses. Serodiagnosis of human tumor viruses has improved in recent years with increased specificity and sensitivity of the assays, as well as reductions in cost and the ability to assess multiple antibody/antigens in single assays. Serodiagnosis of tumor viruses plays an important role in our understanding of the prevalence and transmission of these viruses and ultimately in the ability to develop treatments/preventions for these globally important diseases.

Evaluation of Sensitivity and Specificity Performance of Elecsys HTLV-I/II Assay in a Multicenter Study in Europe and Japan

“…In low-seroprevalence populations, the positive predictive power of any assay is low and most positive results are false positives (4). For this reason, samples testing positive with screening tests should be tested with confirmatory assays.…”

Modeling of EBV Infection and Antibody Responses in Kenyan Infants With Different Levels of Malaria Exposure Shows Maternal Antibody Decay is a Major Determinant of Early EBV Infection

“…In addition to IgG responses, we also measured VCA-specific IgM as a marker of primary infection [13]. The VCA IgM showed a very different trend in overall kinetics, between the low-and high-malaria regions, where no plateau of antibody levels was seen in the high-malaria region (see Figure 1B).…”

“…We expressed the results as median fluorescence intensity (MFI) level of ≥75 beads. Detection of anti-VCA IgM is used clinically to evaluate whether primary EBV infection has occurred [13]. We performed the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [14] to detect anti-VCA IgM, and we had limited sample volume to perform more extensive serological analysis.…”

“…High malaria exposure was also associated with impaired transfer of maternal VCA and EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G from mother to infant [11], and later in life, higher level of EBV-specific IgG antibodies [12]. The measurement of antibodies specific for EBV VCA and EBNA1 have been used in numerous seroepidemiology studies to assess primary and persistent EBV infections (reviewed in [13]). Typically, anti-VCA IgG appears early after infection, with a delay to detection of anti-EBNA1 IgG.…”

“…The measurement of antibodies specific for EBV VCA and EBNA1 have been used in numerous seroepidemiology studies to assess primary and persistent EBV infections (reviewed in [13]). Typically, anti-VCA IgG appears early after infection, with a delay to detection of anti-EBNA1 IgG.…”