Adenoviruses in Human Intestinal Lymphocytes
Author Information
Author(s): Roy Soumitra, Roberto Medina-Jaszek, Angelica Keough, Martin Peng, Hui Wilson, James M. Wilson, Eric J. Kremer
Primary Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Hypothesis
What is the frequency of adenovirus colonization in the gut of normal human subjects?
Conclusion
Adenoviral DNA is highly prevalent in lymphocytes from the gastro-intestinal tract indicating that adenoviruses may be part of the normal gut flora.
Supporting Evidence
- 21 out of 58 intestinal tissue samples tested positive for adenoviral DNA.
- Adenoviral DNA was found in both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte fractions.
- Active adenoviral gene expression was detected in 9 of 11 donors tested.
Takeaway
Adenoviruses can live in the gut and are found in the immune cells there, which might be normal for our bodies.
Methodology
Nested PCR was used to detect adenoviral DNA in intestinal specimens, and quantitative PCR was used to determine adenoviral copy numbers in lymphocyte fractions.
Limitations
The study was limited by the quality of tissue samples and the inability to isolate sufficient numbers of lymphocytes from every sample.
Participant Demographics
The study included intestinal tissue samples from 58 donors of varying ages and sexes.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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