@article {1923,
	title = {Simian virus 40 efficiently infects human T lymphocytes and extends their lifespan.},
	journal = {Exp Hematol},
	volume = {40},
	year = {2012},
	month = {2012 Jun},
	pages = {466-76},
	abstract = {<p>The relevance of viral infections to the onset and progression of human hematologic malignancies and other blood diseases is still a matter of active investigation. Purified human T lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy blood donors were experimentally infected with simian virus 40 (SV40), a small DNA tumor virus. SV40-positive T lymphocytes extended their lifespan up to day 80 postinfection (PI). Expression of viral antigens, such as the large T antigen and the viral capsid protein VP1 from the early and late regions, respectively, was detected up to day 40 PI. SV40 viral progeny were continuously produced from day 10 to 40 PI. SV40 DNA sequences were detected in infected T cells for up to 80 days. Our data indicate that human T lymphocytes can be efficiently infected with SV40. Although T cells infected by SV40 were not immortalized, 30\% of these lymphocytes appeared to be morphologically transformed with an enlarged T-cell shape. Our investigation provides a simple model for studying the interactions of human T lymphocytes with this small DNA tumor virus and it might represent an experimental tool for investigating new biomarkers and targets for innovative therapeutic approaches.</p>},
	keywords = {Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming, Cell Line, Transformed, Cell Survival, Humans, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission, Simian virus 40, T-Lymphocytes},
	issn = {1873-2399},
	doi = {10.1016/j.exphem.2012.02.008},
	author = {Mazzoni, Elisa and Rigolin, Gian Matteo and Alaribe, Franca Nneka and Pancaldi, Cecilia and Maniero, Stefania and Comar, Manola and Martini, Fernanda and Tognon, Mauro}
}
@article {1743,
	title = {Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA sequences in the buffy coats of healthy blood donors.},
	journal = {Blood},
	volume = {117},
	year = {2011},
	month = {2011 Jun 30},
	pages = {7099-101},
	abstract = {<p>Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a DNA tumor virus, has been found to be associated with Merkel cell carcinoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. MCPyV sequences have also been detected in various normal tissues in tumor-affected patients. Immunologic studies have detected MCPyV antibodies in as many as 80\% of healthy blood donors. This high seroprevalence suggests that MCPyV infection is widespread in humans. In our study, buffy coats, which were examined for MCPyV DNA Tag sequences, showed a prevalence of 22\%. Viral DNA load was revealed in blood samples from 10 to 100 molecules/100 000 cells. DNA sequencing confirmed that polymerase chain reaction amplicons belong to the MCPyV strain, MKL-1. To interpret the putative role of MCPyV in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, we may infer that, during a long period of viral persistence in blood cells, this DNA tumor virus may generate mutants, which are able to participate as cofactors in the multistep process of cell transformation.</p>},
	keywords = {Adult, Aged, Base Sequence, Blood Buffy Coat, Carcinoma, Merkel Cell, Databases, Nucleic Acid, DNA, Viral, Expressed Sequence Tags, Humans, Italy, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polyomavirus, Polyomavirus Infections, Prevalence, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Alignment, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Tumor Virus Infections, Viral Load, Young Adult},
	issn = {1528-0020},
	doi = {10.1182/blood-2010-09-310557},
	author = {Pancaldi, Cecilia and Corazzari, Valentina and Maniero, Stefania and Mazzoni, Elisa and Comar, Manola and Martini, Fernanda and Tognon, Mauro}
}
