A Study of the Impact of Graphene Oxide on Viral Infection Related to A549 and TC28a2 Human Cell Lines

Graphene has been one of the most tested materials since its discovery in 2004. It is known for its special properties, such as electrical conductivity, elasticity and flexibility, antimicrobial effect, and high biocompatibility with many mammal cells. In medicine, the antibacterial, antiviral, and antitumor properties of graphene have been tested as intensively as its drug carrying ability. In this study, the protective effect of graphene oxide against Rubella virus infection of human lung epithelial carcinoma cells and human chondrocyte cells was examined. Cells were incubated with graphene oxide alone and in combination with the Rubella virus. The cytopathic effect in two incubation time periods was measured using DAPI dye as a percentage value of the changed cells. It was shown that the graphene oxide alone has no cytopathic effect on any of tested cell lines, while the Rubella virus alone is highly cytopathic to the cells. However, in combination with the graphene oxide percentage of the changed cells, its cytotopathicity is significantly lower. Moreover, it can be concluded that graphene oxide has protective properties against the Rubella virus infection to cells, lowering its cytopathic changes to the human cells.

The Impact of Rubella Virus Infection on a Secondary Inflammatory Response in Polarized Human Macrophages

Macrophages (MΦ) are known to exhibit distinct responses to viral and bacterial infection, but how they react when exposed to the pathogens in succession is less well understood. Accordingly, we determined the effect of a rubella virus (RV)-induced infection followed by an LPS-induced challenge on cytokine production, signal transduction and metabolic pathways in human GM (M1-like)- and M (M2-like)-MΦ. We found that infection of both subsets with RV resulted in a low TNF-α and a high interferon (IFN, type I and type III) release whereby M-MΦ produced far more IFNs than GM-MΦ. Thus, TNF-α production in contrast to IFN production is not a dominant feature of RV infection in these cells. Upon addition of LPS to RV-infected MΦ compared to the addition of LPS to the uninfected cells the TNF-α response only slightly increased, whereas the IFN-response of both subtypes was greatly enhanced. The subset specific cytokine expression pattern remained unchanged under these assay conditions. The priming effect of RV was also observed when replacing RV by IFN-β one putative priming stimulus induced by RV. Small amounts of IFN-β were sufficient for phosphorylation of Stat1 and to induce IFN-production in response to LPS. Analysis of signal transduction pathways activated by successive exposure of MΦ to RV and LPS revealed an increased phosphorylation of NFκB (M-MΦ), but different to uninfected MΦ a reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (both subtypes). Furthermore, metabolic pathways were affected; the LPS-induced increase in glycolysis was dampened in both subtypes after RV infection. In conclusion, we show that RV infection and exogenously added IFN-β can prime MΦ to produce high amounts of IFNs in response to LPS and that changes in glycolysis and signal transduction are associated with the priming effect. These findings will help to understand to what extent MΦ defense to viral infection is modulated by a following exposure to a bacterial infection.

Seroprevalence Of Rubella Virus Antibodies Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Ekiti State

Rubella virus infection poses a great threat to the foetus whose mother acquires the infection. This study was therefore carried out to determine the seroprevalence of rubella virus IgM antibodies among the pregnant women attending Federal Teaching Hopsital, Ido Ekiti. One hundred and ninety two (192) sera were collected from pregnant women and screened for rubella virus IgM antibodies. A structured questionnaire was administered to subjects to obtain socio-demographic data. The sera samples were analysed using Enzymes Immunosorbent Assay (EIA) IgM rubella kit. Out of 192 pregnant women screened, 6(3.1%) subjects were sero-positive. Age group 31-35years recorded the highest prevalence 3(1.56%). Pregnant women with tertiary education had the highest prevalence of 4(2.08%) among different educational level; civil servants have a prevalence of 4(2.08%) compared with other occupational status. However, prenatal screening and post-partum is highly encouraged to detect congenital rubella syndrome. There is also a need to include rubella screening as part of the routine procedure for the expectant mother.

Seroepidemiology Study of Cytomegalovirus and Rubella in Pregnant Women in Luanda, Angola: Geospatial Distribution and its Association with Socio-Demographic and Clinical-Obstetric Determinants

Background: The main objective was to study the seroprevalence of anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies in pregnant women of Luanda (Angola), identify the primary maternal infection during gestation and to evaluate the socio-demographic risk factors associated with CMV and Rubella virus infections. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2016 to May 2017. Blood samples were collected and specific anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies (IgG and IgM) were quantified by electrochemiluminescence (COBAS e411). Demographic and clinical data were collected by standardized questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the effect of clinical and obstetric risk factors on virus seroprevalence. The level of statistical significance was set as p<0.05, and Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were computed. Results: The 396 pregnant women participated in the study aged from 15 to 47. Of the participants, 382 (96.5%) had anti-CMV IgG antibodies, 8 (2.0%) had anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies and 6 (1.5%) were seronegative. For Rubella virus, 347 (87.6%) were positive for anti-IgG, 4 (1.0%) positive for anti-IgG and IgM, and 45 (11.4%) were seronegative. The mean age of CMV positivity was 28.4 (SD ± 6.2) and for Rubella virus was 28.6 (SD ± 6.1). The multivariate logistic regression analysis has shown a significant association between Rubella virus infection and pregnant women without child (OR 2.673; CI: 1.026 - 7.007) and suffering spontaneous abortion (OR 3.232; CI: 1.192 - 7.952). In contrast, the level of schooling, residence, occupation, marital status, number of children in the household, basic sanitation, gestational age, history of miscarriages and hepatitis B were not significantly associated with the Rubella virus infection. Conclusions: Overall, this study showed that there is a high seroprevalence of anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies in pregnant women in Luanda. Therefore, it is important a rapid and accurate diagnosis of CMV and Rubella infection in pregnant women to prevent congenital infections. Rubella vaccination should be offered to women non-immune to Rubella. Overall, it would be important to implement national screening for CMV, Rubella and other diseases linked to maternal and child health.

Profile of congenital rubella syndrome in Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia

Background: Definition of Congenital Ruben Syndrome (CRS): a disease caused by rubella virus infection. Routine surveil- lance of CRS is part of a government pro- gram in documenting the incidence of CRS so that infants with CRS are diagnosed promptly and receive appropriate care. Objective: This study aims to repodiology Outpatient General Hospital Dr. Soetomo Surabaya.Method: A descriptive study from CRS surveillance data for the period from January 1st until December 31rd, 2015. Data was from Infants who came to the Audiology Outpatient General Hospital Dr. Soetomo Surabaya and did hearing and serological examination. Results: A total of 65 infants were involved in surveillance. The highest num- ber of patients was the age group 1- <3 years (21 patients, 31.2%). A total of 36 patients (55.4%) were male, 45 babies (69.2%) were suspected of suffering from CRS with 2 infants (3.1%) classified as a laboratory-confirmed CRS. Hearing abnor- malities were found in 36 infants (55.4%). Bilateral hearing loss was found in 23 infants (35.4%) and unilateral in 13 infants (20%).Conclusions: This study shows that hearing impairment is the most common clinical symptom with most bilateral hear- ing loss. The supervision still needs to be continued to capture more CRS cases in the community and effective supervision to detect hearing impairment early.