Highlights from 5th Intern'l Conference on HHV-6 and -7

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Highlights from 5th International Conference on HHV-6 and -7

by A Komaroff, et al.

01-03-2007

Journal: Herpes. 2006 Nov;13(3):81-2.

Authors and affiliation: Komaroff A, son S, Ablashi V,

Yamanishi K. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

PMID: 17147913

This article reports on key presentations at the 5th International

Conference on Human Herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and -7, organized by the HHV-

6 Foundation. New assays for HHV-6 and -7 promise to be more

accurate and better able to distinguish between HHV-6A and B or

differentiate active from latent infection. Nevertheless, more

research is needed to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of

these assays.

Cellular receptors for both HHV-6 and -7 have been identified. Both

viruses have in vitro tropism for neurons and dendritic cells of the

central nervous system (CNS), and their role in producing CNS

disease in the immunocompromised (particularly transplant recipients

and the HIV-infected) is well established. HHV-6 may enhance the

progression of simian immunodeficiency virus in monkeys, as

suggested by in vivo data.

In immunocompetent children and adults, HHV-6 and/or -7 may play a

role in triggering and perpetuating several diseases of the nervous

system, namely encephalitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome and epilepsy.