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Marc Van Ranst

Publications and source records attributed to Marc Van Ranst.

78 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

A combination of poor adherence and a low baseline susceptibility score is highly predictive for HAART failure.

The relationship between adherence, virological response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the presence and development of genotypic resistance was assessed in 41 HIV-infected patients on HAART. Four adherence parameters (drug taking adherence, dosing adherence, timing adherence and drug holidays) were scored prospectively using electronic event monitoring. Genotypic resistance at baseline and after therapy failure was scored retrospectively and a genotype-based susceptibility score was calculated. Overall median adherence rates were high. All adherence parameters were better in virological responders (n=31) compared to non-responders (n=10), drug taking adherence and number of drug holidays being significantly different. Responders had a significantly higher susceptibility score. Stepwise logistic regression showed that the number of drug holidays and a low susceptibility score were highly predictive for therapy failure. Despite the presence of a limited number of baseline resistance mutations, perfectly adherent patients can control virus replication for a prolonged period.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Search for polymorphisms in the genes for herpesvirus entry mediator, nectin-1, and nectin-2 in immune seronegative individuals.

Recently, individuals have been identified who possess T cell responses to herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens despite the absence of detectable anti-HSV antibodies in their serum. The significance of this immune seronegative status is unclear, but it could indicate resistance to overt HSV infection. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether genetic differences in receptors used by HSV for cell entry (herpesvirus entry mediator [HVEM], nectin-1, and nectin-2) could be detected in immune seronegative individuals. Coding polymorphisms were identified in the HVEM and nectin-1 genes. The variant receptor proteins were expressed, and their ability to bind the viral ligand glycoprotein D and to mediate HSV entry after transient transfection into normally resistant cells was compared with that of their wild-type counterparts. HSV entry activity in wild-type and variant forms of the receptors was indistinguishable, which indicates that the polymorphisms observed are unlikely to explain the possible restrictions on HSV replication or spread in immune seronegative individuals.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cattle pathogen tritrichomonas foetus (Riedmüller, 1928) and pig commensal Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby & Delafond, 1843) belong to the same species.

A number of reports suggest that the sexually transmitted pathogen of cattle, Tritrichomonasfoetus, and a gastrointestinal commensal of pigs, Tritrichomonas suis, are very similar and may be co-specific. A conclusive review of the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of these species has not been presented so far. Toward this end, we reexamined and compared porcine and bovine trichomonads with regard to their morphology, pathogenic potential, and DNA polymorphism. Using light and electron microscopy, no distinguishing features between T. foetus and T. suis strains were found in size, general morphology, and karyomastigont structure. Both bovine and porcine trichomonads showed pathogenic potential in the subcutaneous mouse assays and did not separate into distinct groups according to strain virulence. Three DNA fingerprinting methods (i.e. RFLP, RAPD, and PCR-based analysis of variable-length DNA repeats) that produce species-specific DNA fragment patterns did not distinguish between the bovine and porcine strains. Sequencing of a variable 502-bp DNA fragment as well as comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences did not reveal species-specific differences between the cattle and porcine strains. Therefore, we conclude that T. foetus and T. suis belong to the same species. To prevent confusion that may arise from T. foetus-T. suis synonymy, we propose to suppress the older name suis and maintain its accustomed junior synonym foetus as a nomen protectum for both cattle and porcine trichomonads. The case has been submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature for ruling under its plenary power.

Animals↗