Experimental leprosy studies using Mycobacterium leprae inoculum isolated from a sooty mangabey monkey (SMM) resulted in the accidental discovery that SMM's asymptomatically carry simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) that is pathogenic in macaques. We showed that the SMM virus, SIVDelta, was antigenically related to SIVmac, which had been identified in macaques, and to the human immunodeficiency...

In this review, we trace the concept and potential functional role of regulatory idiotypes in the immune response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), simian immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C virus (HCV). A major idiotype involved in these viral infections is recognized and defined by a murine monoclonal antibody (1F7). Antibodies expressing the idiotype defined by 1F7 are domi...

INTRODUCTION: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are herpesviruses, which account for the majority of oral viral infections. Herpes simplex virus, varicellazoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus infections nearly always result from reactivation of latent virus, while cytomegalovirus infections, besides presenting as reactivated disease, are almost as likely to present as a primary...

BACKGROUND Immunosuppression in Human Immunodeficiency Virus can predispose to opportunistic infections of the central nervous system and can be life threatening without early recognition and management. This can be delayed in undiagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The present article is the only case report in the literature to describe a first presentation of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syn...

Background: Although regular frequent blood transfusion improves overall survival of multi-transfused patients like β-thalassemic ones, it carries a definite risk of infection with blood-borne viruses such as viral hepatitis. This study was done to determine seropositivity of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunedeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among β-th...

INTRODUCTION The association of human immunodeficiency virus and immune dysfunction leading to development of autoimmune markers is well described, but human immunodeficiency virus infection is relatively protective for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast, development of systemic lupus erythematosus with hepatitis C and with interferon therapy is well described in a num...