What is the prevalence of viruses in semen among men of reproductive age?5 answersThe prevalence of viruses in semen among men of reproductive age varies depending on the specific virus. Studies have shown varying rates of viral presence in semen samples. For instance, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in semen was found to be 8% in infertile men and 3.3% in fertile men. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in 28% of semen samples from patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Additionally, a study examining human herpes viruses, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and HPV found that 45.5% of samples were positive for at least one of these viruses. A meta-analysis revealed that the frequency of HPV, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infertile men was 15%. These findings collectively suggest that various viruses can be present in semen samples of men of reproductive age, highlighting the importance of understanding viral implications on male fertility.
Mycoviruses: future therapeutic agents of invasive fungal infections in humans?5 answersMycoviruses have the potential to be future therapeutic agents for invasive fungal infections in humans. These infections are common in immunocompromised patients and are often difficult to treat due to resistance or refractoriness to current antimicrobial agents. There is a critical need for new antifungal agents to treat these life-threatening infections, and innovative research in antifungal drug discovery may lead to the development of more promising options. Several novel therapies are currently in clinical development, including drugs with new mechanisms of action and improved safety profiles. The currently available armamentarium for invasive fungal diseases is limited, and new antifungal agents, formulations, and combination regimens may provide improved strategies to combat the challenges associated with current therapies. The future development of novel compounds is necessary to address the limitations of current antifungal agents and to improve outcomes for patients with invasive fungal infections.
What are the trends in virus diagnostics using NGS?5 answersNext generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized virus diagnostics by providing a powerful tool for detecting known viruses and discovering novel viruses in various samples. Several computational pipelines have been developed to identify and classify viral sequences in NGS data. These approaches include targeted amplicon and unbiased metagenomic shotgun NGS, which have the potential to detect a wide range of viruses, including those that were previously undiscovered and uncultivatable. Nucleic acid-based detection methods offer high sensitivity, while immunoassays provide robustness and reduced costs. Next-generation sequencing can provide highly specific results and enable the sequencing of large numbers of viral genomes. Molecular diagnostic assays based on amplification technologies are of increasing importance in virus diagnostics, and the use of micro-arrays may enable an integrated approach for identification, quantification, and characterization of infectious agents. However, the implementation of NGS in clinical settings is hindered by the challenge of deciding the best technology to use.
What are the latest findings on HHV-6 and ME/CFS?5 answersRecent findings suggest a potential link between HHV-6 and ME/CFS. Studies have shown that active HHV-6 infection, detected through the presence of viral miRNA, is specific to ME/CFS patients and not found in controls. Additionally, HHV-6 reactivation has been associated with various diseases including Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Another study found that HHV-6 infection was correlated with nerve fiber damage severity in fibromyalgia patients, a condition often comorbid with ME/CFS. Furthermore, HHV-6 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that shares similarities with ME/CFS. Patients with HHV-6-reactive oligoclonal bands (OCBs) were significantly younger and had more IgG-OCBs, suggesting a potential role of HHV-6 in long-term infection with demyelination. These findings highlight the potential involvement of HHV-6 in ME/CFS and provide grounds for further investigation into the role of herpesviruses in the development of the disease.
What are the latest findings on HHV-7 and ME/CFS?4 answersRecent findings on HHV-7 and ME/CFS suggest a potential association between HHV-7 infection and fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. In a study of FM patients, HHV-7 genomic sequences were detected in a significant number of samples, and active HHV-7 infection was found only in FM patients. Additionally, HHV-7 infection was correlated with the severity of nerve fiber damage in FM patients. Another study compared the efficacy of antiviral drugs in treating chronic reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with ME/CFS. The study found that artesunate was more effective than valganciclovir and valaciclovir in reducing HHV-6 and HHV-7 viral load in ME/CFS patients. These findings suggest that HHV-7 may play a role in FM symptoms and that artesunate may be a promising treatment option for ME/CFS patients with reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections.
How many RNA virus vaccines are there?8 answers