HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dockrell, D.H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dockrell, D.H. Agricola Articles by Dockrell, D.H.

Human herpesvirus 6: molecular biology and clinical features

Division of Genomic Medicine, University of Sheffield School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK

Correspondence D. H. Dockrell d.h.dockrell{at}shef.ac.uk

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) exists as distinct variants HHV-6A and HHV-6B. The complete genomes of HHV-6A and HHV-6B have been sequenced. HHV-6B contains 97 unique genes. CD46 is the cell receptor for HHV-6, explaining its broad tissue tropism but its restricted host-species range. HHV-6 utilizes a number of strategies to down-regulate the host immune response, including molecular mimicry by production of a functional chemokine and chemokine receptors. Immunosuppression is enhanced by depletion of CD4 T lymphocytes via direct infection of intra-thymic progenitors and by apoptosis induction. Infection is widespread in infants between 6 months and 2 years of age. A minority of infants develop roseola infantum, but undifferentiated febrile illness is more common. Reactivation from latency occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Organ-specific clinical syndromes occasionally result, but indirect effects including interactions with other viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and human cytomegalovirus or graft dysfunction in transplant recipients may be more significant complications in this population. Recent advances in quantitative PCR are providing additional insights into the natural history of infection in paediatric populations and immunocompromised hosts.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. M. Sullivan and L. Coscoy Downregulation of the T-Cell Receptor Complex and Impairment of T-Cell Activation by Human Herpesvirus 6 U24 Protein J. Virol., January 15, 2008; 82(2): 602 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. P. Fitzsimons, U. A. Gompels, D. Verzijl, H. F. Vischer, C. Mattick, R. Leurs, and M. J. Smit Chemokine-Directed Trafficking of Receptor Stimulus to Different G Proteins: Selective Inducible and Constitutive Signaling by Human Herpesvirus 6-Encoded Chemokine Receptor U51 Mol. Pharmacol., March 1, 2006; 69(3): 888 - 898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Deborska-Materkowska, A. Sadowska, A. Wesolowska, A. Perkowska-Ptasinska, and M. Durlik Human herpesvirus 6 variant A infection in renal transplant recipient Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., October 1, 2005; 20(10): 2294 - 2294. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Lacoste, E. J. Verschoor, E. Nerrienet, and A. Gessain A novel homologue of Human herpesvirus 6 in chimpanzees J. Gen. Virol., August 1, 2005; 86(8): 2135 - 2140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Smith, C. Paolucci, G. Di Lullo, S. E. Burastero, F. Santoro, and P. Lusso Viral Replication-Independent Blockade of Dendritic Cell Maturation and Interleukin-12 Production by Human Herpesvirus 6 J. Virol., March 1, 2005; 79(5): 2807 - 2813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Niiya, T. Azuma, L. Jin, N. Uchida, A. Inoue, H. Hasegawa, S. Fujita, M. Tohyama, K. Hashimoto, and M. Yasukawa Transcriptional downregulation of DC-SIGN in human herpesvirus 6-infected dendritic cells J. Gen. Virol., September 1, 2004; 85(9): 2639 - 2642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Rotola, I Merlotti, L Caniatti, E Caselli, E Granieri, M R Tola, D Di Luca, and E Cassai Human herpesvirus 6 infects the central nervous system of multiple sclerosis patients in the early stages of the disease Multiple Sclerosis, August 1, 2004; 10(4): 348 - 354. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Mori, P. Akkapaiboon, S. Yonemoto, M. Koike, M. Takemoto, T. Sadaoka, Y. Sasamoto, S. Konishi, Y. Uchiyama, and K. Yamanishi Discovery of a Second Form of Tripartite Complex Containing gH-gL of Human Herpesvirus 6 and Observations on CD46 J. Virol., May 1, 2004; 78(9): 4609 - 4616. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Smith, F. Santoro, G. Di Lullo, L. Dagna, A. Verani, and P. Lusso Selective suppression of IL-12 production by human herpesvirus 6 Blood, October 15, 2003; 102(8): 2877 - 2884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Santoro, H. L. Greenstone, A. Insinga, M. K. Liszewski, J. P. Atkinson, P. Lusso, and E. A. Berger Interaction of Glycoprotein H of Human Herpesvirus 6 with the Cellular Receptor CD46 J. Biol. Chem., July 3, 2003; 278(28): 25964 - 25969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]