Experimental study of the liver ultrastructure in the presence of infection with herpes simplex virus 1.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Understanding of HSV-1liver infection pathogenesis is of great scientific, social and economic significance, since this is one of the main latent infections in population. However reactivation of this infection remains understudied. The aim: This experimental research aimed at studying the ultrastructure changes occurring in the liver in the presence of HSV-1infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Experiments were conducted on 12 BALB/c line mice weighing 18-20 g. They were divided into 2 groups: experimental, and control. Experimental animals were infected with the attenuated HSV-1. On day 40 the animals were withdrawn from the experiment by decapitation. Liver fragments were excised and studied ultramicroscopically. RESULTS: Results: Liver disorders were represented by the focal damage of hepatic lobuli cells. Ultrastructure changes were found both in the microvascular endothelium and hepatocytes. The vascular disorders included swelling of endotheliocytes, their demise and desquamation into the lumen, disruption of the basal lamina integrity and diapedesis of blood cells into the subendothelial space. Finding virions in the endotheliocytes allowed to explain the possible pathway of the infection into the interstitium and hepatocytes via systemic circulation from the primary source of infection. Electron microscopy has not revealed any virions in hepatocytes, with only the following changes: significant cytosole density of the osmiophylic granules, lisosomes and lamellar bodies found. These were considered to be the consequence of the infectious process. Findings of the experimental study enable understanding of the causal relationship between the acute infection and liver damage. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Ultrastructure changes in the liver of mice infected with HSV-1 were focal, and more rarely diffuse in nature. Non-specific cytopathological changes (swelling of the cytoplasm and reduction of the endoplasmatic reticulum, and mitochondria) were found both in the endotheliocytes of the sinusoid capillaries and hepatocytes. Endotheliocytes of the sinusoid liver capillaries in mice infected with HSV-1 lose their barrier function, which leads to direct and indirect damage of hepatocytes and development of dystrophic changes in the liver.

Nerve Regeneration in Conditions of HSV-Infection and an Antiviral Drug Influence.

Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I) is a latent neuroinfection which can cause focal brain lesion. The role of HSV-infection in nerve regeneration has not been studied so far. The aim of the work was to study sciatic nerve regeneration in the presence of HSV-infection and the influence of an antiviral drug. BALB/c line mice were divided into five groups. Group 1 animals were infected with HSV-I. After resolution of neuroinfection manifestations the sciatic nerve of these animals was crushed. Group 2 mice were administered acyclovir following the same procedures. Groups 3-5 mice served as controls. Thirty days after the operation distal nerve stumps and m.gastrocnemius were studied morphologically and biochemically. Ultrastructural organization of the sciatic nerve in control animals remained intact. Morphometric parameters of the nerves from the experimental groups have not reach control values. However, in the group 1 diameter of nerve fibers was significantly smaller than in the group 2. Both nerve regeneration and m.gastrocnemius reinnervation were confirmed. The muscle hypotrophy was found in groups 1, 2, and 3 (the muscle fibers diameter decreased). Metabolic changes in the muscles of the infected animals (groups 1 and 2) were more pronounced than in control groups 3 and 4. The levels of TBA-active products, conjugated dienes, carbonyl and SH-groups were reduced in m.gastrocnemius of the experimental groups, however no significant difference associated with acyclovir administration was found. HSV-infection is not limited to the local neurodegenerative changes in the CNS but affects regeneration of the injured sciatic nerve. Anat Rec, 301:1734-1744, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The study of leukocyte phagocytic activity in the presence of herpetic infection and stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Inrtoduction: Post-stroke complications are one of the urgent and insufficiently resolved problems. According to different literature data 23% to 65% of patients suffer from the post-stroke development of an infectious process. Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 can also be etiological factors of stroke development, however their reactivation is seldom mentioned in clinical observations. The development of immune suppression is considered to be the cause of these complications. The aim: The current study aims at determining post-stroke changes in leukocyte component of the immunity and in the presence of concomitant herpetic infection as well as at finding changes in phagocytosis parameters during antiviral treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The experiments were carried out on mice of the Balb/с line. The animals were infected with the herpes simplex virus type I, and 30 days later hemorrhagic stroke was simulated by administering 0.1 ml of autoblood into the right hemisphere. Following the acute stroke some animals were given acyclovir, proteflazid or altabor. From the animals' blood leukocytes were obtained and phagocytic activity and production of reactive oxygen species of granulocytes and agranulocytes in relation to fluorescent E.coli bacteria were studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Results: The experiment revealed significant changes in the redistribution between two major types of leukocytes in mice with stroke (an increased number of agranulocytes by 19.9%) and decreased phagocytosis activity, in the animals infected with herpes simplex virus type І in particular. Ischemic brain damage had an immunosuppressive effect on blood leukocytes. For comparison a significant increase in phagocyte count in leukocytes was found in the case of viral infection. The use of drugs with antiviral effects did not affect the activity of granulocytes / agranulocytes. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Stroke can be the cause of latent herpes virus infection reactivation and has essential negative effect on immune characteristics of leukocytes that remain unchanged with the use of antiviral agents.

Anti-influenza Activity of a Bacillus subtilis Probiotic Strain.

Among Bacillus bacteria, B. subtilis is the species that produces the most antimicrobial compounds. In this study, we analyzed the activity of probiotic strain B. subtilis 3 against the influenza virus. The antiviral effect of this strain has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo A new peptide, P18, produced by the probiotic strain was isolated, purified, chemically synthesized, and characterized. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated no toxic effect of P18 on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, even at the highest concentration tested (100 µg/ml). Complete inhibition of the influenza virus in vitro was observed at concentrations of 12.5 to 100 µg/ml. The protective effect of P18 in mice was comparable to that of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu). Further study will assess the potential of peptide P18 as an antiviral compound and as a promising candidate for the development of new antiviral vaccines.

Antiviral activity of Basidiomycete mycelia against influenza type A (serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 in cell culture.

In this study, we investigated the in vitro antiviral activity of the mycelia of higher mushrooms against influenza virus type A (serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), strain BH. All 10 investigated mushroom species inhibited the reproduction of influenza virus strain A/FM/1/47 (H1N1) in MDCK cells reducing the infectious titer by 2.0-6.0 lg ID50. Four species, Pleurotus ostreatus, Fomes fomentarius, Auriporia aurea, and Trametes versicolor, were also determined to be effective against HSV-2 strain BH in RK-13 cells, with similar levels of inhibition as for influenza. For some of the investigated mushroom species-Pleurotus eryngii, Lyophyllum shimeji, and Flammulina velutipes-this is the first report of an anti-influenza effect. This study also reports the first data on the medicinal properties of A. aurea, including anti-influenza and antiherpetic activities. T. versicolor 353 mycelium was found to have a high therapeutic index (324.67), and may be a promising material for the pharmaceutical industry as an anti-influenza and antiherpetic agent with low toxicity. Mycelia with antiviral activity were obtained in our investigation by bioconversion of agricultural wastes (amaranth flour after CO2 extraction), which would reduce the cost of the final product and solve some ecological problems.