Detection of antibodies to avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses and reticuloendotheliosis viruses in humans by western blot assay. 1995

E S Johnson, and L Overby, and R Philpot
Environmental and Molecular Epidemiology Section, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.

Serologic evidence of antibodies in humans to avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses (ALSV) and reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REV) has in general been negative. Because of the difficulty in infecting mammalian cells in vitro with these viruses, it is generally held that they do not infect humans. We first provided presumptive evidence of serologic response to these viruses in human sera of workers in poultry slaughtering plants, using an ELISA. We now provide confirmatory evidence using Western blot assay. Our results show that exposed poultry workers and subjects with no occupational exposure to these viruses have antibodies in their sera specifically directed against ALSV p27, p19, p15, and p12 antigens. In addition, we demonstrate evidence of serologic response to REV. This is the first time definitive evidence of exposure to ALSV or REV has been demonstrated in human sera. The significance of this is not known. Further investigation into whether these findings mean that virus has been integrated into the human genome is needed, to assess the public health implications of these results.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009858 Oncogenic Viruses Viruses that produce tumors. Tumor Viruses,Oncogenic Virus,Tumor Virus,Virus, Oncogenic,Virus, Tumor,Viruses, Oncogenic,Viruses, Tumor
D002642 Chick Embryo The developmental entity of a fertilized chicken egg (ZYGOTE). The developmental process begins about 24 h before the egg is laid at the BLASTODISC, a small whitish spot on the surface of the EGG YOLK. After 21 days of incubation, the embryo is fully developed before hatching. Embryo, Chick,Chick Embryos,Embryos, Chick
D004591 Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000917 Antibody Formation The production of ANTIBODIES by proliferating and differentiated B-LYMPHOCYTES under stimulation by ANTIGENS. Antibody Production,Antibody Response,Antibody Responses,Formation, Antibody,Production, Antibody,Response, Antibody,Responses, Antibody
D000937 Antigen-Antibody Reactions The processes triggered by interactions of ANTIBODIES with their ANTIGENS. Antigen Antibody Reactions,Antigen-Antibody Reaction,Reaction, Antigen-Antibody,Reactions, Antigen-Antibody
D001353 Avian Leukosis A group of transmissible viral diseases of chickens and turkeys. Liver tumors are found in most forms, but tumors can be found elsewhere. Leukosis, Avian,Avian Leukoses,Leukoses, Avian

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