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The Journal of Dermatology Jan 2017Immunohistochemical studies of one typical and two atypical cases of molluscum contagiosum with anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies showed a tightly enclosing fine...
Immunohistochemical studies of one typical and two atypical cases of molluscum contagiosum with anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies showed a tightly enclosing fine vasculature around the lesional masses of the disease. The thin interstitial septa between the lobules of the molluscum lesions also contained abundant endothelium. An electron microscopic study of a pinched-off lesion of common molluscum contagiosum demonstrated that the tightly enclosing blood vessels lacked muscle layers, suggesting that they were capillaries, being a distance of several hundred nanometers from the basal cells of the molluscum mass. A 3D constructed image of the vasculature confirmed a network of the vessels. These tightly enclosing vascular networks around the lesions of molluscum contagiosum support the rapid growth of this disease.
Topics: Adolescent; Antigens, CD34; Capillaries; Child, Preschool; Dermoscopy; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Immunohistochemistry; Microscopy, Electron; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Skin
PubMed: 27607603
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.13519 -
Dermatology Online Journal Jan 2016A three-year-old boy presented to our oculoplastic clinic with complaints of painless gradually increasing right upper lid mass for the last 6 months. On examination a...
A three-year-old boy presented to our oculoplastic clinic with complaints of painless gradually increasing right upper lid mass for the last 6 months. On examination a firm mass measuring roughly 1x1 cm was present on the upper lid. The mass was non tender with fine superficial vessels running over it. A differential diagnosis of epidermoid cyst, vascular malformation, pilomatrixoma, and juvenile xanthogranuloma was considered. The patient underwent excisional biopsy of the mass. On gross examination the mass had a brain like appearance. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum. It is rare for molluscum contagiosum to present as a solitary lid tumor. A brain like appearance of the excised mass can provide a clue towards the diagnosis.
Topics: Antibodies, Viral; Child, Preschool; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; Diagnosis, Differential; Eyelid Neoplasms; Eyelids; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Male; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Skin Diseases, Viral
PubMed: 26990479
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Virology May 2016Molluscum contagiosum virus (MOCV), the only circulating human-specific poxvirus, has a worldwide distribution and causes benign skin lesions that may persist for months...
UNLABELLED
Molluscum contagiosum virus (MOCV), the only circulating human-specific poxvirus, has a worldwide distribution and causes benign skin lesions that may persist for months in young children and severe infections in immunosuppressed adults. Studies of MOCV are restricted by the lack of an efficient animal model or a cell culture replication system. We used next-generation sequencing to analyze and compare polyadenylated RNAs from abortive MOCV infections of several cell lines and a human skin lesion. Viral RNAs were detected for 14 days after MOCV infection of cultured cells; however, there was little change in the RNA species during this time and a similar pattern occurred in the presence of an inhibitor of protein synthesis, indicating a block preventing postreplicative gene expression. Moreover, a considerable number of MOCV RNAs mapped to homologs of orthopoxvirus early genes, but few did so to homologs of intermediate or late genes. The RNAs made during in vitro infections represent a subset of RNAs detected in human skin lesions which mapped to homologs of numerous postreplicative as well as early orthopoxvirus genes. Transfection experiments using fluorescent protein and luciferase reporters demonstrated that vaccinia virus recognized MOCV intermediate and late promoters, indicating similar gene regulation. The specific recognition of the intermediate promoter in MOCV-infected cells provided evidence for the synthesis of intermediate transcription factors, which are products of early genes, but not for late transcription factors. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and reporter gene assays may be useful for testing engineered cell lines and conditions that ultimately could provide an in vitro replication system.
IMPORTANCE
The inability to propagate molluscum contagiosum virus, which causes benign skin lesions in young children and more extensive infections in immunosuppressed adults, has constrained our understanding of the biology of this human-specific virus. In the present study, we characterized the RNAs synthesized in abortively infected cultured cells and a human skin lesion by next-generation sequencing. These studies provided an initial transcription map of the MOCV genome, suggested temporal regulation of gene expression, and indicated that the in vitro replication block occurs prior to intermediate and late gene expression. RNA-seq and reporter assays, as described here, may help to further evaluate MOCV gene expression and define conditions that could enable MOCV replication in vitro.
Topics: Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Computational Biology; Consensus Sequence; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Gene Order; Genes, Viral; Genome, Viral; Humans; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Promoter Regions, Genetic; RNA, Viral; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Transcriptome
PubMed: 26889040
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02911-15 -
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills,... Jun 2016Fingolimod-related viral infections have been described on several occasions since its introduction in 2010. We hereby add a report on an otherwise immunocompetent,...
Fingolimod-related viral infections have been described on several occasions since its introduction in 2010. We hereby add a report on an otherwise immunocompetent, 18-year old Caucasian man with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who developed a protracted and extensive molluscum contagiosum (MC) virus infection shortly after being started on fingolimod. Wide-spread cutaneous MC infections in adult patients are considered indicative of underlying immunosuppression. Neurologists prescribing fingolimod ought to be aware of a possibly increased risk of MC, but also need to know about its relative benignity, lack of extra-cutaneous complications, and adequate treatment options.
Topics: Adolescent; Biopsy; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Opportunistic Infections; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26860987
DOI: 10.1177/1352458516629560 -
Journal of Virology Dec 2015Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) gene MC159 encodes a viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) that inhibits caspase-8-mediated apoptosis. The MC159 protein was also...
UNLABELLED
Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) gene MC159 encodes a viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) that inhibits caspase-8-mediated apoptosis. The MC159 protein was also reported to inhibit programmed necrosis (necroptosis) and modulate NF-κB activation by interacting with RIP1 and NEMO. The importance of MC159 during MCV infection has remained unknown, as there is no system for propagation and genetic manipulation of this virus. Here we investigated the functions of MC159 during viral infection using murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a surrogate virus. MC159 was inserted into the MCMV genome, replacing M36 or M45, two MCMV genes with functions similar to those reported for MC159. M36 encodes a viral inhibitor of caspase-8-induced apoptosis (vICA) and M45 a viral inhibitor of RIP activation (vIRA), which inhibits RIP1/RIP3-mediated necroptosis. The M45 protein also blocks NF-κB activation by interacting with NEMO. When expressed by MCMV, MC159 blocked tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced apoptosis of infected cells and partially restored MCMV replication in macrophages. However, MC159 did not fully replace M45, as it did not inhibit necroptosis in murine cells, but it reduced TNF-α-induced necroptosis in MCMV-infected human HT-29 cells. MC159 also differed from M45 in its effect on NF-κB. While MCMV-encoded M45 blocked NF-κB activation by TNF-α and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), MC159 inhibited TNF-α- but not IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation in infected mouse fibroblasts. These results indicate that the spectrum of MC159's functions differs depending on cell type and expression system and that a cell culture system for the propagation of MCV is needed to determine the biological relevance of presumed viral gene functions.
IMPORTANCE
MCV is a human-pathogenic poxvirus that cannot be propagated in cell culture or laboratory animals. Therefore, MCV gene products have been studied predominantly in cells expressing individual viral genes. In this study, we analyzed the function of the MCV gene MC159 by expressing it from a different virus and comparing its functions to those of two well-characterized MCMV genes. In this system, MC159 displayed some but not all of the previously described functions, suggesting that the functions of a viral gene depend on the conditions under which it is expressed. Until a cell culture system for the analysis of MCV becomes available, it might be necessary to analyze MCV genes in several different systems to extrapolate their biological importance.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Mice; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Muromegalovirus; Recombinant Proteins; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 26719271
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02729-15 -
Pediatric Dermatology 2015
Review
Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Aminoquinolines; Antiviral Agents; Child; Chronic Disease; Cryotherapy; Female; Humans; Imiquimod; Information Dissemination; Male; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Patient Education as Topic; Prognosis; Retinoids; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26584708
DOI: 10.1111/pde.12752 -
Journal of the European Academy of... May 2016Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a high-resolution emerging imaging technique that allows non-invasive diagnosis of several cutaneous disorders. A systematic... (Review)
Review
Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a high-resolution emerging imaging technique that allows non-invasive diagnosis of several cutaneous disorders. A systematic review of the literature on the use of RCM for the study of infections and infestations has been performed to evaluate the current use of this technique and its possible future applications in this field. RCM is particularly suitable for the identification of Sarcoptes scabies, Demodex folliculorum, Ixodes, Dermatophytes and Candida species in the clinical practice and for the follow-up after treatment. The cytopathic effect of herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus and molluscipoxvirus is also detectable by this imaging technique even in a pre-vesicular stage. In addition, thanks to its non-invasiveness, RCM allows pathophysiological studies.
Topics: Humans; Microscopy, Confocal; Skin Diseases, Parasitic
PubMed: 26387660
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13254 -
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Jan 2016Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is the commonest human poxvirus infection. Follicular induction has rarely been observed in the epidermis surrounding lesions of MC. A...
BACKGROUND
Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is the commonest human poxvirus infection. Follicular induction has rarely been observed in the epidermis surrounding lesions of MC. A virus-induced localized proliferation of germinative/stem cells of the folliculosebaceous-apocrine unit has been suggested as the underlying cause, however few reports of this peculiar phenomenon exist in the literature and the mechanisms involved in this proliferation require further study.
METHODS
We prospectively collected MC cases showing multifocal areas of primitive follicular induction involving the adjacent undersurface epidermis. Immunohistochemical expression of BerEP4, PHLDA1 and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) was evaluated in the basaloid germs surrounding the lesions. For PHLDA1, we used epidermal melanocytes as a positive internal control. For BerEP4, we employed a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and for CK20, colon as positive external controls. An incubation without the primary antibody functioned as an external negative control.
RESULTS
All the cases studied showed an intense positive staining of the basaloid buds with BerEP4 and weaker stain for PHLDA1. CK20 showed the presence of scattered Merkel cells within the induced epidermal basaloid proliferations favoring their reactive origin.
DISCUSSION
The pathogenetic mechanisms behind the development of these microscopic features and the link between follicular induction and poxvirus infection are explored. Awareness of this unusual phenomenon by dermatopathologists will be helpful in avoiding a misdiagnosis of a superficial BCC in such cases.
CONCLUSIONS
BerEP4 and PHLDA1 were consistently expressed in the areas of primitive follicular induction surrounding lesions of MC. CK 20 stained the Merkel cells present in the basaloid buds. All these findings support the reactive origin of this phenomenon, which we believe is most probably viral-induced.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Case-Control Studies; Hair Follicle; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratin-20; Merkel Cells; Molluscipoxvirus; Molluscum Contagiosum; Poxviridae Infections; Prospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 26265178
DOI: 10.1111/cup.12584 -
Marine Drugs Jul 2015Biodiversity of the marine world is only partially subjected to detailed scientific scrutiny in comparison to terrestrial life. Life in the marine world depends heavily... (Review)
Review
Biodiversity of the marine world is only partially subjected to detailed scientific scrutiny in comparison to terrestrial life. Life in the marine world depends heavily on marine fungi scavenging the oceans of lifeless plants and animals and entering them into the nutrient cycle by. Approximately 150 to 200 new compounds, including alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, polyketides, and aromatic compounds, are identified from marine fungi annually. In recent years, numerous investigations demonstrated the tremendous potential of marine fungi as a promising source to develop new antivirals against different important viruses, including herpes simplex viruses, the human immunodeficiency virus, and the influenza virus. Various genera of marine fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Fusarium were subjected to compound isolation and antiviral studies, which led to an illustration of the strong antiviral activity of a variety of marine fungi-derived compounds. The present review strives to summarize all available knowledge on active compounds isolated from marine fungi with antiviral activity.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Fungi; HIV; Humans; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Orthomyxoviridae; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; Simplexvirus; Tobacco Mosaic Virus
PubMed: 26204947
DOI: 10.3390/md13074520 -
JAMA Ophthalmology Sep 2015
Topics: Administration, Oral; Child; Chronic Disease; Cimetidine; Conjunctivitis, Viral; Eye Infections, Viral; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Humans; Male; Molluscum Contagiosum; Molluscum contagiosum virus; Skin Diseases, Viral; Warts
PubMed: 26180942
DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2015.1284