Scientists learn how common virus reactivates after transplantation
(Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) A new study in Science challenges long-held theories of why a common virus -- cytomegalovirus, or CMV -- can reactivate and become a life-threatening infection in people with a compromised immune system, including blood cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - January 17, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Strain-specific antibody therapy prevents cytomegalovirus reactivation after transplantation
Cytomegalovirus infection is a frequent and life-threatening complication that significantly limits positive transplantation outcomes. We developed preclinical mouse models of cytomegalovirus reactivation after transplantation and found that humoral immunity is essential for preventing viral recrudescence. Preexisting antiviral antibodies decreased after transplant in the presence of graft-versus-host disease and were not replaced, owing to poor reconstitution of donor B cells and elimination of recipient plasma cells. Viral reactivation was prevented by the transfer of immune serum, without a need to identify and target s...
Source: ScienceNOW - January 17, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Martins, J. P., Andoniou, C. E., Fleming, P., Kuns, R. D., Schuster, I. S., Voigt, V., Daly, S., Varelias, A., Tey, S.-K., Degli-Esposti, M. A., Hill, G. R. Tags: Immunology, Medicine, Diseases reports Source Type: news

What are Some of the Causes of SGA?
Discussion Intrauterine growth retardation or fetal growth retardation is due to a pathological process that causes decelerated fetal growth velocity. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) is an infant with growth parameters below the normal range for gestational age. More commonly, SGA is defined as a birth weight < 10% for gestational age. This may be due a pathological or non-pathological process (e.g. constitutionally small fetus). Using these standards, remember that 10% of all infants will be < 10% for weight, and they do not necessarily have an underlying problem and infants who are constitutionally small do not hav...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - December 10, 2018 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news

FDA OKs First Diagnostic Aid for Congenital Cytomegalovirus FDA OKs First Diagnostic Aid for Congenital Cytomegalovirus
The Alethia CMV Assay Test System detects the DNA of CMV in the saliva of newborns and should only be used in conjunction with the results of other diagnostic tests and clinical information.FDA Approvals (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - December 3, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Ob/Gyn & Women ' s Health News Alert Source Type: news

FDA authorizes first test to aid in detecting a type of herpes virus in newborns called cytomegalovirus
(Source: Food and Drug Administration)
Source: Food and Drug Administration - November 30, 2018 Category: American Health Source Type: news

Infant HIV Infection Ups Risk for Congenital CMV Infection
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 -- HIV-exposed infants have high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, and in utero HIV infection seems to be a major risk factor for cCMV, according to a study published in the October issue of The Pediatric... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - October 25, 2018 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

HIV-positive infants are at high risk for acquiring congenital cytomegalovirus infection
FINDINGSInfants born to HIV-positive mothers had high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Infants who also were infected before birth by the virus that causes AIDS were especially prone to CMV infection.The researchers found that 23 percent of the infants who became infected with HIV during the mother ’s pregnancy also were infected with CMV; 18 percent who were infected with HIV either during pregnancy or birth acquired congenital CMV; and 4.9 percent who were exposed to HIV but remained uninfected with that virus also acquired congenital CMV.Overall, HIV-infected infants were four times as likely to have acqui...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - October 15, 2018 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

HIV-positive infants are at high risk for acquiring congenital cytomegalovirus infection
(University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) Infants born to HIV-positive mothers had high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Infants who also were infected before birth by the virus that causes AIDS were especially prone to CMV infection. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - October 15, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Pregnant mothers warned not to eat a child ’s leftovers
Scientists at St George's University of London have cautioned pregnant mothers that cytomegalovirus can be transmitted through children's saliva and infect unborn babies. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - September 11, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Scientists find a new way to attack herpesviruses
(Gladstone Institutes) A team of scientists led by Leor S. Weinberger, PhD, the William and Ute Bowes Distinguished Professor and director of the Gladstone-UCSF Center for Cell Circuitry, uncovered the mechanism that allows cytomegalovirus to replicate. Their study, published in the scientific journal PNAS, could open new therapeutic avenues to treat several herpesviruses. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - August 28, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

UC Davis researchers find quiet viruses alter body's response to vaccines, pathogens
(University of California - Davis Health System) UC Davis researchers have shown that low levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) have a significant impact on microbe and immune cell populations and how the immune system responds to the influenza vaccine. The study was published in the Journal of Virology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - August 3, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Diseases Passed from Mom to Newborn Can Threaten Baby
Doctors say the transfer of an infection from a pregnant mother to a newborn can pose a serious threat to the baby, including deafness and a malformed brain. Three congenital infections — syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and HIV — are especially problematic in Texas, reports the July issue of Texas Medicine magazine. (Source: TMA News Room)
Source: TMA News Room - July 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Medical News Today: Scientists 'completely surprised' by immunity-boosting virus
Cytomegalovirus — a common, asymptomatic virus — may actually boost the immune system's response to infection, much to specialists' surprise. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 4, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news

This virus actually may boost -- not weaken -- our immune system
(University of Arizona Health Sciences) Lifelong cytomegalovirus infection may be beneficial, boosting the immune system in old age, when we need it most, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 2, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Dormant cytomegalovirus resides in eyes of healthy mice long after infection
(PLOS) Infection with cytomegalovirus triggers long-lasting eye inflammation and establishes a dormant pool of the virus in the eyes of mice with healthy immune systems, according to new research presented in PLOS Pathogens by Valentina Voigt of the Lions Eye Institute in Western Australia and colleagues. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - May 31, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news