How a virus might make you diabetic later in life

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the viruses that most infected people carry without ill effects. Once infected you are infected for life and, although it normally is dormant, it can become active again at any point in time. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Immunity and Ageing shows that CMV infection is a significant risk factor for the type 2 diabetes in the elderly.

Obesity, inactivity and aging are known to be associated with insulin resistance, one of the first signs of incipient diabetes. However only a third of those with insulin resistance go on the develop type 2 diabetes. So what marks these people as different? Why do their pancreas' fail? Genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a part but so also does inflammation. People with type 2 diabetes usually have raised levels of biological markers for inflammation such as elevated CRP and larger numbers of active white blood cells.

Chronic infections including CMV can 'stress' the immune system and when researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre and University of Tubingen Medical School compared glucose regulation with antibodies to CMV (or CMV seropositivity) in over 500 participants of the Leiden 85-plus Study they found that having CMV was associated with type 2 diabetes.

The researchers suggest that CMV could be either acting directly on pancreatic cells or indirectly by causing the immune system attacking the pancreas. Dr Andrea Maier, who led the investigation explained, " In our study we realised that although CMV seropositivity was associated with type 2 diabetes, higher levels of HnA1c and high non-fasting glucose the actual level of antibodies against CMV was not. "

This study is looking at the effect of CMV on the very old. By their very nature these people have had longer to become infected with CMV and have low risks for other factors which are linked to diabetes or to cardiovascular disease. While it may not be possible to extrapolate these findings to the general population it seems likely that finding a way to overcome CMV infections may reduce diseases, such as diabetes, later in life.

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Ciclo de replicación del VIH (Inglés c/subtitulos esp)

Un video muy explicativo y sencillo de entender.

Frequency of Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) Type 1 and 2 Infection in HIV Infected Patients

"Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) type 1 and 2 are retroviruses that share the same routes of transmission as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a consequence of epidemiologic similarities, HIV and HTLV-1/2 co-infection is frequent. Due to the limited data, this study assessed the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 infections in HIV infected patients in Tehran, Iran."

"El virus linfotrópico  de células T humanas  (HTLV) tipos 1 y 2 son retrovirus que comparten las mismas vías de transmisión como el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Como consecuencia de las similitudes epidemiológicas, VIH y HTLV-1/2 la co-infección es frecuente. Debido a la escasez de datos, este estudio evaluó la seroprevalencia de infecciones HTLV-1/2 en pacientes infectados por el VIH en Teherán, Irán."

Iranian Journal of Pathology: Vol. 7 #1

Complete article

The Organisation of Ebola Virus Reveals a Capacity for Extensive, Modular Polyploidy

"Filoviruses, including Ebola virus, are unusual in being filamentous animal viruses. Structural data on the arrangement, stoichiometry and organisation of the component molecules of filoviruses has until now been lacking, partially due to the need to work under level 4 biological containment. The present study provides unique insights into the structure of this deadly pathogen."

"Filovirus, incluyendo el virus del Ébola, son inusuales por ser virus filamentosos de animales. Datos estructurales sobre la disposición, la estequiometría y la organización de las moléculas que componen a los filovirus hasta ahora ha estado ausente, en parte debido a la necesidad de trabajar en el nivel 4 de contención biológica. El presente estudio ofrece información detallada sobre la estructura de este patógeno mortal ".

PLoS ONE: Volume 7
Complete Article

Ebola virus

Complications of HIV Infection: A Systems-Based Approach

"Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection often develop multiple complications and comorbidities. Opportunistic infections should always be considered in the evaluation of symptomatic patients with advanced HIV/AIDS, although the overall incidence of these infections has decreased..."

VIH on electronic microscope

"Los pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) a menudo desarrollan múltiples complicaciones y comorbilidades. Las infecciones oportunistas  deben ser siempre consideradas en la evaluación de pacientes sintomáticos con VIH / SIDA avanzado, aunque la incidencia general de estas infecciones se han reducido..."

American Family Physician: Volume 83, Number 4

Complete article

Human Antibodies That Protect Against Large Variety of Flu Viruses Described

"A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and Crucell Vaccine Institute in the Netherlands describes three human antibodies that provide broad protection against Influenza B virus strains. The same team had previously reported finding broadly neutralizing antibodies against Influenza A strains."

"Un equipo liderado por científicos del Instituto de Investigación  Scripps y Instituto de Vacunas Crucell  de los Países Bajos, describen tres anticuerpos humanos que ofrecen una amplia protección contra las cepas del virus de la Influenza B. El mismo equipo había informado anteriormente la búsqueda de anticuerpos ampliamente neutralizantes contra cepas de la Influenza A."

Science, 9 August 2012 DOI
Complete article

Virus: Entre la Vida y la Muerte

Estructura del VIH

"En los últimos años algunos virus como los hantavirus, el ébola y el marburgo se han convertido en protagonistas de los medios de comunicación........."

Ésta es una pequeña introducción al Mundo de los Virus

Virus (Artículo completo)

Descubrimiento de los genes BRCA1 y BRCA2

Genes BRCA 1 y 2

"El descubrimiento de los genes BRCA1 y BRCA2 ha llevado a la introducción de pruebas genéticas cada vez más sofisticadas para medir el riesgo de cáncer de mama de origen hereditario, entre otras cosas. En el presente artículo exploramos los criterios a seguir para realizar pruebas para estos genes, así como las implicaciones en el tratamiento para los pacientes en caso de identificarlos."

Aunque no incluya virus es un articulo bastante imteresante.

Salud Pública de México / Vol. 53, no. 5, Septiembre-Octubre de 2011

Articulo completo

Vacuna para el VPH

Virus del Papiloma Humano

VPH al microscopio.

"Hasta hace pocas décadas, el origen viral de algunas enfermedades era desconocido e incluso la presencia de los virus se consideraba de poca importancia. Sin embargo, en la actualidad con el avance de la genética la importancia de los virus ha cobrado importancia al descubrirse que pueden formar parte fundamental en el origen de algunas formas de cáncer..."

Virus del Papiloma Humano (articulo completo)