@article {10757, title = {Antibodies reacting to mimotopes of Simian virus 40 large T antigen, the viral oncoprotein, in sera from children.}, journal = {J Cell Physiol}, volume = {234}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Apr}, pages = {3170-3179}, abstract = {

Recent data indicate that the Simian virus 40 (SV40) infection appears to be transmitted in humans independently from early SV40-contaminated antipolio vaccines. Serum antibodies against SV40 large T antigen (Tag) were analyzed in children/adolescents and young adults. To investigate antibodies reacting to SV40 Tag antigens, serum samples ( n = 812) from children and young adults were analyzed by indirect ELISAs using specific SV40 Tag mimotopes. Mimotopes were synthetic peptides corresponding to SV40 Tag epitopes. In sera ( n = 412) from healthy children up to 17 years old, IgG antibodies against SV40 Tag mimotopes reached an overall prevalence of 15\%. IgM antibodies against SV40 Tag were detected in sera of children 6-8 months old confirming and extending the knowledge that SV40 seroconversion occurs early in life. In children/adolescents affected by different diseases ( n = 180) SV40 Tag had a prevalence of 18\%, being the difference no significant compared to healthy subjects ( n = 220; 16\%) of the same age. Our immunological data indicate that SV40 circulates in children and young adults, both in healthy conditions and affected by distinct diseases. The IgM detection in sera from healthy children suggests that the SV40 infection/seroconversion occurs early in life (>6 months). Our immunological data support the hypothesis that SV40, or a closely related still unknown polyomavirus, infects humans. The SV40 seroprevalence is lower than common polyomaviruses, such as BKPyV and JCPyV, and other new human polyomaviruses. In addition, our immunological surveillance indicates a lack of association between different diseases, considered herein, and SV40.

}, issn = {1097-4652}, doi = {10.1002/jcp.27490}, author = {Mazzoni, Elisa and Frontini, Francesca and Rotondo, John Charles and Zanotta, Nunzia and Fioravanti, Arianna and Minelli, Francesca and Torreggiani, Elena and Campisciano, Giuseppina and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Guerra, Giovanni and Tommasini, Alberto and Touz{\'e}, Antoine and Martini, Fernanda and Tognon, Mauro and Comar, Manola} } @article {10425, title = {Antibody response to polyomavirus primary infection: high seroprevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus and lymphoid tissue involvement.}, journal = {J Neurovirol}, volume = {24}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Jun}, pages = {314-322}, abstract = {

Human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) asymptomatically infect the human population establishing latency in the host, and their seroprevalence can reach 90\% in healthy adults. Few studies have focused on the pediatric population, and there are no reports regarding the seroprevalence of all the newly isolated HPyVs among Italian children. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of serum antibodies against 12 PyVs in 182 immunocompetent children from Northeast Italy, by means of a multiplex antibody detection system. Additionally, secondary lymphoid tissues were collected to analyze the presence of HPyV DNA sequences using a specific real-time PCRs or PCRs. Almost 100\% of subjects were seropositive for at least one PyV. Seropositivity ranged from 3\% for antibodies against simian virus 40 (SV40) in children from 0 to 3~years, to 91\% for antibodies against WU polyomavirus (WUPyV) and HPyV10 in children from 8 to 17~years. The mean number of PyV for which children were seropositive increased with the increasing of age: 4 standard deviations (SD) 1.8 in the 0-3-year group, 5 (SD 1.9) in the 4-7-year group, and 6 (SD 2.2) in the 8-17-year group. JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) DNA was detected in 1\% of the adenoids, WUPyV in 12\% of the tonsils, and 28\% of the adenoids, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) was present in 6 and 2\% of the tonsils and adenoids, respectively. Our study gives new insights on the serological evidence of exposure to PyVs during childhood, and on their possible respiratory route of transmission.

}, issn = {1538-2443}, doi = {10.1007/s13365-017-0612-2}, author = {Cason, Carolina and Monasta, Lorenzo and Zanotta, Nunzia and Campisciano, Giuseppina and Maestri, Iva and Tommasino, Massimo and Pawlita, Michael and Villani, Sonia and Comar, Manola and Delbue, Serena} } @article {1916, title = {Asbestos and SV40 in malignant pleural mesothelioma from a hyperendemic area of north-eastern Italy.}, journal = {Tumori}, volume = {98}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Mar-Apr}, pages = {210-4}, abstract = {

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Malignant mesothelioma is a fatal cancer of increasing incidence in north-eastern Italy. Together with asbestos, the polyomavirus SV40 was hypothesized to contribute to the onset of malignant mesothelioma. To investigate the putative role of SV40 in the individual susceptibility to asbestos-induced malignant mesothelioma, we conducted a molecular epidemiological study on a series of malignant mesothelioma patients from an area in north-eastern Italy hyperendemic for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We collected 63 mesothelioma samples from incidence cases of patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the period 2009-2010. DNA was extracted from patients{\textquoteright} tissue biopsies using the BioRobot EZ1 Qiagen workstation. SV40 sequence detection and quantification was performed by specific real time PCR. The 74.6\% of the 63 enrolled patients had a history of asbestos exposure. The epithelioid histotype was more prevalent in males (64.0\%) and the mixed in females (61.5\%) who showed significantly higher cancer co-morbidity (46.1\% vs 12\%, P = 0.005). SV40 was detected in 22\% of MM tumors, with a low viral load. In SV40-positive patients, a threefold increased risk of asbestos exposure was observed, more evident in females (OR 4.32) than in males (OR 1.20).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that a high prevalence of SV40 was present in malignant mesothelioma incident cases from an area hyperendemic for malignant mesothelioma in north-eastern Italy. Although asbestos is considered the main risk factor in malignant mesothelioma onset, a role for SV40 could be hypothesized.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Asbestos, Carcinogens, Disease Susceptibility, DNA, Viral, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Mesothelioma, Middle Aged, Pleural Neoplasms, Polyomavirus Infections, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Risk Factors, Simian virus 40, Tumor Virus Infections, Viral Load}, issn = {2038-2529}, doi = {10.1700/1088.11931}, author = {Comar, Manola and Zanotta, Nunzia and Pesel, Giuliano and Visconti, Patrizia and Maestri, Iva and Rinaldi, Rosa and Crovella, Sergio and Cortale, Maurizio and De Zotti, Renata and Bovenzi, Massimo} } @article {1965, title = {Association between the JC polyomavirus infection and male infertility.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {e42880}, abstract = {

In recent years the incidence of male infertility has increased. Many risk factors have been taken into consideration, including viral infections. Investigations into viral agents and male infertility have mainly been focused on human papillomaviruses, while no reports have been published on polyomaviruses and male infertility. The aim of this study was to verify whether JC virus and BK virus are associated with male infertility. Matched semen and urine samples from 106 infertile males and 100 fertile males, as controls, were analyzed. Specific PCR analyses were carried out to detect and quantify large T (Tag) coding sequences of JCV and BKV. DNA sequencing, carried out in Tag JCV-positive samples, was addressed to viral protein 1 (VP1) coding sequences. The prevalence of JCV Tag sequences in semen and urine samples from infertile males was 34\% (72/212), whereas the BKV prevalence was 0.94\% (2/212). Specifically, JCV Tag sequences were detected in 24.5\% (26/106) of semen and 43.4\% (46/106) of urine samples from infertile men. In semen and urine samples from controls the prevalence was 11\% and 28\%, respectively. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in JCV prevalence was disclosed in semen and urine samples of cases vs. controls. A higher JC viral DNA load was detected in samples from infertile males than in controls. In samples from infertile males the JC virus type 2 strain, subtype 2b, was more prevalent than ubiquitous type 1. JCV type 2 strain infection has been found to be associated with male infertility. These data suggest that the JC virus should be taken into consideration as an infectious agent which is responsible for male infertility.

}, keywords = {Adult, Amino Acid Sequence, Amino Acid Substitution, Base Sequence, BK Virus, Capsid Proteins, DNA, Viral, Humans, Infertility, Male, JC Virus, Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Polyomavirus Infections, Semen, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Tumor Virus Infections}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0042880}, author = {Comar, Manola and Zanotta, Nunzia and Croci, Eleonora and Murru, Immacolata and Marci, Roberto and Pancaldi, Cecilia and Dolcet, Ornella and Luppi, Stefania and Martinelli, Monica and Giolo, Elena and Ricci, Giuseppe and Tognon, Mauro} }