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. 2007 Jan 9;37:S57–S62. doi: 10.1016/S1386-6532(06)70013-0

Detection of HHV-6B in post-mortem central nervous system tissue of a post-bone marrow transplant recipient: a multi-virus array analysis

Karen Yao a,f, Nahid Akyani a, Donatella Donati a, Naomi Sengamalay b, Julie Fotheringham a, Elodie Ghedin b, Michael Bishop c, John Barrett d, Fatah Kashanchi e, Steven Jacobson a,*
PMCID: PMC7128682  PMID: 17276371

Abstract

Background

HHV-6 has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders. Recent evidence has suggested high incidence of HHV-6 infection in patients (46%) undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT).

Objective

To investigate whether HHV-6 plays a role in the development of fatal encephalopathy in an allogeneic post-BMT patient using an unbiased approach.

Results

Detection of HHV-6 viral DNA sequence and RNA expression were demonstrated in fresh frozen post-mortem autopsy material derived from the insular cortex using a multi-virus array platform. In addition, PCR analysis by real-time quantitative TaqMan demonstrated high viral burden in multiple brain regions tested. Sequencing analysis of PCR product confirmed the virus to be HHV-6 variant B.

Conclusions

Active infection as demonstrated by expression of viral RNA and high viral load in the CNS suggest a possible pathogenic role of HHV-6 in development neurologic complications post-BMT.

Keywords: HHV-6, Multi-virus array, Central nervous system, Post-bone marrow transplant

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