Occurrence of infections in nervous system by herpesvirus (HHV) and polyomavirus (JC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with neurological disorders

• Grant number: 16/12221-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Helena Alves Bonon
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Carriel de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The neurological complications caused by virus are resulted of the direct entry of the antigen into nervous system or may be triggered by systemic viral infection that activates inflammatory cells, cross the hemato-encefalic barrier and cause damage to nervous system. The clinical manifestations are highly variable and they depend on the location of neuronal or glial injury, damage of the nervous system and the severity of the inflammatory process. Herpesvirus simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and Varicella Zoster, members of the Herpesviridae family, are responsible for causing damage to the nervous system, especially acute encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis in immunocompromised patients. The polyomavirus (JC), member of the Polyomaviridae, is highly associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a demyelinating infectious disease and it is considered a virus that has tropism for nervous system cells, as well as HSV-1 and HSV-2. Since these harmful agents infecting an organism, they establish latency for the rest of the host's life. Your reactivations may occur in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. There is urgency in diagnosis and treatment of these infections, due of the sequelae, once initiated damage, may be irreversible, and consequently may lead to death. This project aims to detect the presence of the DNA of HSV-1 and HSV-2, VZV and polyomavirus JC in 50 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with suspected viral infection of nervous system using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Recognizing the true cause of the viral infection in the nervous system, it can provide a better treatment to patients, reducing the impact of these diseases. (AU)