Detection of human herpesvirus-6 in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with encephalitis

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis
08:20

Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis

Published on: June 2, 2022

Karen Yao1, Somayeh Honarmand, Alex Espinosa

  • 1Viral Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Annals of Neurology
|April 1, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) may cause encephalitis, a brain inflammation. Researchers found HHV-6 DNA and antibodies in some encephalitis patients, suggesting it as a potential pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Virus infections are primary causes of encephalitis, leading to acute brain inflammation.
  • The causative agents for over half of encephalitis cases remain unidentified due to diagnostic limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) as a potential cause of encephalitis.
  • To determine if HHV-6 is present in patients with unexplained encephalitis.

Main Methods:

  • Examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from encephalitis patients for HHV-6 DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Assessed HHV-6 specific antibody (IgG and IgM) levels in CSF.
  • Compared findings with CSF samples from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

Main Results:

  • Elevated HHV-6 IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in a subset of encephalitis patients.
  • Cell-free viral DNA, indicating active infection, was found in 40% of encephalitis patients.
  • A significant correlation was observed between PCR detection of HHV-6 and the presence of anti-HHV-6 antibodies.

Conclusions:

  • Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is suggested as a potential pathogen in some cases of encephalitis.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering HHV-6 in the differential diagnosis of encephalitis.

More Related Videos

Detection of the Genome and Transcripts of a Persistent DNA Virus in Neuronal Tissues by Fluorescent In situ Hybridization Combined with Immunostaining13:22

Detection of the Genome and Transcripts of a Persistent DNA Virus in Neuronal Tissues by Fluorescent In situ Hybridization Combined with Immunostaining

Published on: January 23, 2014

In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus10:21

In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus

Published on: December 2, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Herpes01:28

Herpes

Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV‑1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for orolabial lesions. It is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae. Once the virus infects a host cell, its double‑stranded DNA genome is delivered into the nucleus, where a coordinated cascade of immediate‑early, early, and late gene expression directs viral DNA replication, structural protein synthesis, and virion assembly. After primary infection of epithelial cells, HSV-1...