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Latent Virus Reactivation: From Space to EarthReactivation of latent viruses is a recognized consequence of decreased immunity. More recently viral reactivation has been identified as an important in vivo indicator of clinically relevant immune changes. Viral reactivation can be determined quickly and easily by the presence of virus in saliva and other body fluids. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive and specific molecular method to detect the presence of specific viral DNA. Studies in astronauts demonstrated that herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivate at rates above normal during and after spaceflight in response to moderately decreased T-cell immunity. This technology was expanded to patients on Earth beginning with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) immuno-compromised patients. The HIV patients shed EBV in saliva at rates 9-fold higher than observed in astronauts demonstrating that the level of EBV shedding reflects the severity of impaired immunity. Whereas EBV reactivation is not expected to produce serious effects in astronauts on missions of 6 months or less, VZV reactivation in astronauts could produce shingles. Reactivation of live, infectious VZV in astronauts with no symptoms was demonstrated in astronauts during and after spaceflight. We applied our technology to study VZV-induced shingles in patients. In a study of 54 shingles patients, we showed salivary VZV was present in every patient on the day antiviral (acyclovir) treatment was initiated. Pain and skin lesions decreased with antiviral treatment. Corresponding decreases in levels of VZV were also observed and accompanied recovery. Although the level of VZV in shingles patients before the treatment was generally higher than those found in astronauts, lower range of VZV numbers in shingles patients overlapped with astronaut s levels. This suggests a potential risk of shingles to astronauts resulting from reactivation of VZV. In another clinical study of 25 shingles patients, PCR technology detected VZV in the serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all 25 patients demonstrating for the first time that viremia is a common manifestation of herpes shingles.
Document ID
20100001667
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mehta, Satish K.
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Cohrs, Randall J.
(Colorado Univ. Denver, CO, United States)
Gilden, Donald H.
(Colorado Univ. Denver, CO, United States)
Tyring, Stephen K.
(Texas Univ. Houston, TX, United States)
Castro, Victoria A.
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Ott, C. Mark
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Pierson, Duane L.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-19555
Meeting Information
Meeting: HRP Investigators Workshop
Location: Houston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: February 3, 2010
End Date: February 5, 2010
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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