Benjamin Pinsky

All Publications

• Diagnosis of Zika virus infection on a nanotechnology platform. Nature medicine Zhang, B., Pinsky, B. A., Ananta, J. S., Zhao, S., Arulkumar, S., Wan, H., Sahoo, M. K., Abeynayake, J., Waggoner, J. J., Hopes, C., Tang, M., Dai, H. 2017

  Abstract

  We developed a multiplexed assay on a plasmonic-gold platform for measuring IgG and IgA antibodies and IgG avidity against both Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) infections. In contrast to IgM cross-reactivity, IgG and IgA antibodies against ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen were specific to ZIKV infection, and IgG avidity revealed recent ZIKV infection and past DENV-2 infection in patients in dengue-endemic regions. This assay could enable specific diagnosis of ZIKV infection over other flaviviral infections.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/nm.4302

  View details for PubMedID 28263312

• Viremia and Clinical Presentation in Nicaraguan Patients Infected with Zika Virus, Chikungunya Virus, and Dengue Virus. Clinical infectious diseases Waggoner, J. J., Gresh, L., Vargas, M. J., Ballesteros, G., Tellez, Y., Soda, K. J., Sahoo, M. K., Nuñez, A., Balmaseda, A., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2016

  Abstract

   Zika virus (ZIKV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and dengue virus (DENV) cocirculate in Nicaragua. In this study, we sought to compare the quantified viremia and clinical presentation of patients infected with 1 or more of these viruses. Acute-phase serum samples from 346 patients with a suspected arboviral illness were tested using a multiplex real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for ZIKV, CHIKV, and DENV. Viremia was quantitated for each detected virus, and clinical information from request forms submitted with each sample was recorded. A total of 263 patients tested positive for 1 or more viruses: 192 patients tested positive for a single virus (monoinfections) and 71 patients tested positive for 2 or all 3 viruses (coinfections). Quantifiable viremia was lower in ZIKV infections compared with CHIKV or DENV (mean 4.70 vs 6.42 and 5.84 log10 copies/mL serum, respectively; P < .001 for both comparisons), and for each virus, mean viremia was significantly lower in coinfections than in monoinfections. Compared with patients with CHIKV or DENV, ZIKV patients were more likely to have a rash (P < .001) and less likely to be febrile (P < .05) or require hospitalization (P < .001). Among all patients, hospitalized cases had higher viremia than those who did not require hospitalization (7.1 vs 4.1 log10 copies/mL serum, respectively; P < .001). ZIKV, CHIKV, and DENV result in similar clinical presentations, and coinfections may be relatively common. Our findings illustrate the need for accurate, multiplex diagnostics for patient care and epidemiologic surveillance.

  View details for PubMedID 27578819

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5146717

• Zika Virus: Diagnostics for an Emerging Pandemic Threat. Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2016; 54 (4): 860-867

  Abstract

  Zika virus (ZIKV) is anAedesmosquito-borne flavivirus that emerged in Brazil in 2015 and then rapidly spread throughout the tropical and subtropical Americas. Based on clinical criteria alone, ZIKV cannot be reliably distinguished from infections with other pathogens that cause an undifferentiated systemic febrile illness, including infections with two common arboviruses, dengue virus and chikungunya virus. This minireview details the methods that are available to diagnose ZIKV infection.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00279-16

  View details for PubMedID 26888897

• Metagenomic DNA Sequencing for the Diagnosis of Intraocular Infections. Ophthalmology Doan, T., Acharya, N. R., Pinsky, B. A., Sahoo, M. K., Chow, E. D., Banaei, N., Budvytiene, I., Cevallos, V., Zhong, L., Zhou, Z., Lietman, T. M., DeRisi, J. L. 2017

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.03.045

  View details for PubMedID 28526549

• Detection of Emerging Vaccine-Related Polioviruses by Deep Sequencing. Journal of clinical microbiology Sahoo, M. K., Holubar, M., Huang, C., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Liu, Y., Waggoner, J. J., Troy, S. B., Garcia-Garcia, L., Ferreyra-Reyes, L., Maldonado, Y., Pinsky, B. A. 2017

  Abstract

  Oral poliovirus vaccine can mutate to regain neurovirulence. To date, evaluation of these mutations has been performed primarily on culture-enriched isolates by using conventional Sanger sequencing. We therefore developed a culture-independent, deep-sequencing method targeting the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and P1 genomic region to characterize vaccine-related poliovirus variants. Error analysis of the deep-sequencing method demonstrated reliable detection of poliovirus mutations at levels of <1%, depending on read depth. Sequencing of viral nucleic acids from the stool of vaccinated, asymptomatic children and their close contacts collected during a prospective cohort study in Veracruz, Mexico, revealed no vaccine-derived polioviruses. This was expected given that the longest duration between sequenced sample collection and the end of the most recent national immunization week was 66 days. However, we identified many low-level variants (<5%) distributed across the 5' UTR and P1 genomic region in all three Sabin serotypes, as well as vaccine-related viruses with multiple canonical mutations associated with phenotypic reversion present at high levels (>90%). These results suggest that monitoring emerging vaccine-related poliovirus variants by deep sequencing may aid in the poliovirus endgame and efforts to ensure global polio eradication.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00144-17

  View details for PubMedID 28468861

• T cells expand after solid organ transplantation in the absence of CMV disease. American journal of transplantation Higdon, L. E., Trofe-Clark, J., Liu, S., Margulies, K. B., Sahoo, M. K., Blumberg, E., Pinsky, B. A., Maltzman, J. S. 2017

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in solid-organ transplant recipients. Approximately 60% of adults are CMV seropositive indicating previous exposure. Following resolution of primary infection, CMV remains in a latent state. Reactivation is controlled by memory T cells in healthy individuals; transplant recipients have reduced memory T cell function due to chronic immunosuppressive therapies. In this study, CD8(+) T cell responses to CMV polypeptides IE-1 and pp65 were analyzed in sixteen CMV seropositive renal and cardiac transplant recipients longitudinally pre- and post-transplant. All patients received standard of care maintenance immunosuppression, antiviral prophylaxis and CMV viral load monitoring, with approximately half receiving T cell depleting induction therapy. The frequency of CMV-responsive CD8(+) T cells, defined by production of effector molecules in response to CMV peptides, increased during the course of a year post-transplant. The increase commenced after the completion of antiviral prophylaxis, and these T cells tended to be terminally differentiated effector cells. Based on this small cohort, these data suggest that even in the absence of disease, antigenic exposure may continually shape the CMV-responsive T cell population post-transplant. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/ajt.14227

  View details for PubMedID 28199780

• Clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients with CMV DNA detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Pediatric pulmonology Burgener, E. B., Waggoner, J., Pinsky, B. A., Chen, S. F. 2017; 52 (1): 112-118

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can cause severe pulmonary disease in immunocompromised patients. There are no standard diagnostic criteria for CMV pulmonary disease beyond histopathology findings on lung tissue, which is challenging to obtain in pediatric patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is easier to obtain. Since CMV remains latent after primary infection and can potentially reactivate due to any inflammatory response, CMV detection in BAL specimen may not indicate acute CMV pulmonary disease. Thus, we describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes of pediatric patients with CMV detection in BAL fluid.We reviewed the clinical, radiologic, and laboratory data of patients <19 years old with a BAL specimen positive for CMV during a 5-year period.Thirty-four encounters in 29 patients were found with CMV detected in their BAL specimen. Half (17/34) of the encounters were in immunocompromised patients. CMV, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the most common positive test. Forty-seven percent of the patients had other infections detected in BAL specimens. The majority of patients were never treated for CMV and resolved their acute respiratory illness. Only one patient had probable CMV pulmonary disease.CMV is frequently recovered from BAL specimens but does not usually indicate acute CMV pulmonary disease. We would suggest that other diagnoses be considered first, even if CMV is recovered. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016; 9999:XX-XX. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ppul.23494

  View details for PubMedID 27280337

• Delayed Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis Misdiagnosed as Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Encephalitis With the FilmArray Syndromic Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel. Open forum infectious diseases Gomez, C. A., Pinsky, B. A., Liu, A., Banaei, N. 2017; 4 (1): ofw245-?

  Abstract

  The FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel is a novel syndromic, nucleic acid amplification test for diagnosis of acute meningitis and encephalitis. Emerging data on its performance are concerning for false-positive results. We present a case of tuberculous meningitis misdiagnosed as herpes simplex virus-1 encephalitis with the FilmArray ME panel. Strategies to mitigate erroneous results are discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/ofid/ofw245

  View details for PubMedID 28540320

• Homotypic Dengue Virus Reinfections in Nicaraguan Children. journal of infectious diseases Waggoner, J. J., Balmaseda, A., Gresh, L., Sahoo, M. K., Montoya, M., Wang, C., Abeynayake, J., Kuan, G., Pinsky, B. A., Harris, E. 2016; 214 (7): 986-993

  Abstract

   Infection with one of four related dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1-4) is thought to result in life-long immunity to re-infection with the same serotype (homotypic DENV re-infection). Archived serum samples, collected as part of an ongoing pediatric dengue cohort study in Nicaragua, were tested for DENV by real-time RT-PCR. Samples were collected from 2,892 children who presented with an acute febrile illness clinically attributed to a non-dengue cause ("C" cases). Test results were added to a database of previously-identified symptomatic dengue cases in the cohort to identify repeat infections. Four patients with homotypic DENV re-infections were identified and confirmed among 29 repeat DENV infections with serotype confirmation (13.8% of repeat symptomatic infections). Homotypic re-infections with DENV-1, -2, and -3 occurred 325-621 days after the initial infection. Each patient experienced one symptomatic dengue case and one DENV-positive C case, and two patients presented with symptomatic dengue during their second infection. These DENV-positive C cases did not elicit long-lived humoral immune responses, despite viremia up to 6.44 log10 copies/mL of serum. We describe the first set of virologically confirmed homotypic DENV re-infections. Such cases challenge the current understanding of DENV immunity and have important implications for modeling DENV transmission.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/infdis/jiw099

  View details for PubMedID 26984144

• Molecular diagnostics for human leptospirosis. Current opinion in infectious diseases Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2016; 29 (5): 440-445

  Abstract

  The definitive diagnosis of leptospirosis, which results from infection with spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, currently relies on the use of culture, serological testing (microscopic agglutination testing), and molecular detection. The purpose of this review is to describe new molecular diagnostics for Leptospira and discuss advancements in the use of available methods.Efforts have been focused on improving the clinical sensitivity of Leptospira detection using molecular methods. In this review, we describe a reoptimized pathogenic species-specific real-time PCR (targeting lipL32) that has demonstrated improved sensitivity, findings by two groups that real-time reverse-transcription PCR assays targeting the 16S rrs gene can improve detection, and two new loop-mediated amplification techniques. Quantitation of leptospiremia, detection in different specimen types, and the complementary roles played by molecular detection and microscopic agglutination testing will be discussed. Finally, a protocol for Leptospira strain subtyping using variable number tandem repeat targets and high-resolution melting will be described.Molecular diagnostics have an established role for the diagnosis of leptospirosis and provide an actionable diagnosis in the acute setting. The use of real-time reverse-transcription PCR for testing serum/plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, when available, may improve the detection of Leptospira without decreasing clinical specificity.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000295

  View details for PubMedID 27537829

• Evaluation of the Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx Assay Using Plasma and Dried Blood Spots. Journal of clinical microbiology Sahoo, M. K., Varghese, V., White, E., Winslow, M., Katzenstein, D. A., Shafer, R. W., Pinsky, B. A. 2016; 54 (10): 2597-2601

  Abstract

  HIV-1 RNA quantitation in plasma, or virus load testing, is the primary method by which the response to antiretroviral therapy is monitored. Here we describe evaluation of the Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx assay (Aptima) performed on the automated Panther system. The clinical performance of Aptima was compared to that of the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test v2.0 (CAP/CTM) using 162 EDTA plasma samples collected from patients undergoing HIV-1 monitoring. Overall agreement was 84.0% (136/162), with a kappa statistic of 0.723 (standard error, 0.047; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.630 to 0.815), indicating substantial agreement. Using the 86 clinical samples quantifiable by both methods, Passing-Bablok regression revealed a regression line of Y = (1.069 × X) - 0.346 (95% CI of the slope [1.003 to 1.139] and intercept [-0.666 to -0.074]), and Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a mean difference (Aptima-CAP/CTM) of -0.075 log10 copies/ml (95% limits of agreement of -0.624 to 0.475), consistent with negative bias. Comparison of Aptima results for paired dried blood spot (DBS) and plasma specimens archived from participants in the Peninsula AIDS Research Cohort Study (PARC) demonstrated an overall agreement of 94.7% (90/95) when 1,000 copies/ml was used as the threshold. In conclusion, the Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx assay provides a suitable alternative for HIV-1 monitoring in plasma and DBS.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01569-16

  View details for PubMedID 27535684

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5035416

• Single-Reaction Multiplex Reverse Transcription PCR for Detection of Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue Viruses EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Waggoner, J. J., Gresh, L., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Ballesteros, G., Vargas Davila, M. J., Tellez, Y., Sahoo, M. K., Balmaseda, A., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2016; 22 (7): 1295-1297

  Abstract

  Clinical manifestations of Zika virus, chikungunya virus, and dengue virus infections can be similar. To improve virus detection, streamline molecular workflow, and decrease test costs, we developed and evaluated a multiplex real-time reverse transcription PCR for these viruses.

  View details for DOI 10.3201/eid2207.160326

  View details for Web of Science ID 000378563900030

  View details for PubMedID 27184629

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4918162

• Q148N, a Novel Integrase Inhibitor Resistance Mutation Associated with Low-Level Reduction in Elvitegravir Susceptibility AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES Varghese, V., Pinsky, B. A., Smith, D. S., Klein, D., Shafer, R. W. 2016; 32 (7): 702-704

  Abstract

  The integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-resistance mutations Q148H/K/R are arguably the most important INSTI-resistance mutations as they represented the first step to high-level dolutegravir cross-resistance. We describe an individual with transmitted four-class drug resistance whose virus sequence had the previously uncharacterized mutation Q148N. Infectious molecular HIV-1 clones containing Q148N alone and in combination with G140S demonstrated ∼2.4-4.5 reduced elvitegravir susceptibility depending on the virus's genetic context but retained susceptibility to raltegravir and dolutegravir. This level of reduced elvitegravir susceptibility is lower than that observed with Q148H/K/R and in fact the infected individual responded to an initial treatment regimen containing tenofovir/emtricitabine/elvitegravir/cobicistat. Q148N was associated with a higher replication capacity than Q148H, suggesting that this mutation may be more fit in the absence of selective INSTI therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/aid.2016.0038

  View details for Web of Science ID 000379609100012

  View details for PubMedID 27009474

• Clinical evaluation of a single-reaction real-time RT-PCR for pan-dengue and chikungunya virus detection JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY Waggoner, J. J., Ballesteros, G., Gresh, L., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Tellez, Y., Sahoo, M. K., Abeynayake, J., Balmaseda, A., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2016; 78: 57-61

  Abstract

  Dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) now co-circulate throughout tropical regions of the world, with billions of people living at risk of infection. The differentiation of these infections is important for epidemiologic surveillance as well as clinical care, though widely-used molecular diagnostics for DENV and CHIKV require the performance of two to four separate PCR reactions for detection.In the current study, we sought to develop and evaluate a single-reaction, multiplex real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) for the detection and differentiation of DENV and CHIKV (the pan-DENV-CHIKV rRT-PCR).From an alignment of all available CHIKV complete genome sequences in GenBank, a new CHIKV rRT-PCR was designed for use in multiplex with a previously described assay for pan-DENV detection. Analytical evaluation was performed in accordance with published recommendations, and the pan-DENV-CHIKV rRT-PCR was clinically compared to reference molecular diagnostics for DENV and CHIKV using 182 serum samples from suspected cases in Managua, Nicaragua.The pan-DENV-CHIKV rRT-PCR had a dynamic range extending from 7.0 to 2.0 log10copies/μL for each DENV serotype and CHIKV, and the lower limits of 95% detection were 7.9-37.4copies/μL. The pan-DENV-CHIKV rRT-PCR detected DENV in 81 patients compared to 75 using a reference, hemi-nested DENV RT-PCR, and it demonstrated perfect agreement with a reference CHIKV rRT-PCR (54 positive samples).The single-reaction, multiplex format of the pan-DENV-CHIKV rRT-PCR, combined with sensitive detection of both viruses, has the potential to improve detection while decreasing testing costs and streamlining molecular workflow.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.01.007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000374480000013

  View details for PubMedID 26991052

• Analytical Performance Characteristics of the Cepheid GeneXpert Ebola Assay for the Detection of Ebola Virus PLOS ONE Pinsky, B. A., Sahoo, M. K., Sandlund, J., Kleman, M., Kulkarni, M., Grufman, P., Nygren, M., Kwiatkowski, R., Baron, E. J., Tenover, F., Denison, B., Higuchi, R., van Atta, R., Beer, N. R., Carrillo, A. C., Naraghi-Arani, P., Mire, C. E., Ranadheera, C., Grolla, A., Lagerqvist, N., Persing, D. H. 2015; 10 (11)

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0142216

  View details for Web of Science ID 000364480900020

  View details for PubMedID 26562786

• Next-Generation Sequencing for Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Management A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS Lefterova, M. I., Suarez, C. J., Banaei, N., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 17 (6): 623-634

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2015.07.004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000363830000001

  View details for PubMedID 26433313

• Molecular Testing for Plasmodium falciparum by Use of Serum or Plasma and Comparison with Microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Testing in Febrile Nigerian Patients. Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Okangba, C., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Lefterova, M. I., Banaei, N., Oyibo, W., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 53 (11): 3596-3600

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01876-15

  View details for PubMedID 26354810

• Limited Variation in BK Virus T-Cell Epitopes Revealed by Next-Generation Sequencing. Journal of clinical microbiology Sahoo, M. K., Tan, S. K., Chen, S. F., Kapusinszky, B., Concepcion, K. R., Kjelson, L., Mallempati, K., Farina, H. M., Fernández-Viña, M., Tyan, D., Grimm, P. C., Anderson, M. W., Concepcion, W., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 53 (10): 3226-3233

  Abstract

  BK virus (BKV) infection and end-organ disease remains a formidable challenge to the hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and kidney transplant fields. As BKV-specific treatments are limited, immunologic-based therapies may be a promising and novel therapeutic option for transplant recipients with persistent BKV infection. Here, we describe a whole-genome, deep sequencing methodology and bioinformatics pipeline that identifies BKV variants across the genome and at BKV-specific HLA-A2, HLA-B0702, and HLA-B08 restricted CD8 T-cell epitopes. BKV whole genomes were amplified using long-range PCR with four inverse primer sets and fragmentation libraries were sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM. An error model and variant calling algorithm were developed to accurately identify rare variants. 65 samples from 18 pediatric HCT and kidney recipients with quantifiable BKV DNAemia underwent whole-genome sequencing. Limited genetic variation was observed. The median number of amino acid variants identified per sample was 8 (range 2-37, interquartile range 10), with the majority of variants (77%) detected at a frequency of less than 5%. When normalized for length, there was no statistical difference in the median number of variants across all genes. Similarly, the predominant virus population within samples harbored T-cell epitopes similar to the reference BKV strain that was matched for BKV genotype. Despite the conservation of epitopes, low-level variants in T-cell epitopes were detected in 77.7% (14/18) of patients. Understanding epitope variation across the whole genome provides insight into the virus-immune interface and may help guide the development of protocols for novel immunologic-based therapies.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01385-15

  View details for PubMedID 26202116

• Molecular Detection of Leptospira in Two Returned Travelers: Higher Bacterial Load in Cerebrospinal Fluid Versus Serum or Plasma. American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Waggoner, J. J., Soda, E. A., Seibert, R., Grant, P., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 93 (2): 238-240

  Abstract

  Leptospirosis is a potentially severe illness in returned travelers. Patients often present with fever, headache, and neck pain, which may lead to a workup for meningitis including the acquisition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although Leptospira DNA has been detected in CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), little data exist regarding the utility of testing CSF in addition to serum or plasma obtained on presentation. In this report, we present two cases of leptospirosis in returned travelers presenting with fever and headache. Our first patient had neutrophilic meningitis, and Leptospira was detectable only in CSF obtained on admission. The second patient had a normal CSF profile, but Leptospira was detected in CSF at a bacterial load 5- to 10-fold higher than that in plasma. CSF is an important specimen for the diagnosis of Leptospira by molecular methods and may yield an actionable diagnosis in the absence of leptospiremia.

  View details for DOI 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0174

  View details for PubMedID 26033024

• Fatal West Nile Virus Encephalitis in a Heart Transplant Recipient JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Gomez, A. J., Waggoner, J. J., Itoh, M., Hollander, S. A., Gutierrez, K. M., Budvytiene, I., Banaei, N., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 53 (8): 2749-2752

  Abstract

  The diagnosis of encephalitis is particularly challenging in immunocompromised patients. We report here a case of fatal West Nile Virus encephalitis confounded by the presence of budding yeast in the CSF in a patient who had undergone heart transplantation for dilated cardiomyopathy 11 months prior to presentation of neurologic symptoms.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00834-15

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358290200055

• Case Report: Molecular Detection of Leptospira in Two Returned Travelers: Higher Bacterial Load in Cerebrospinal Fluid versus Serum or Plasma AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE Waggoner, J. J., Soda, E. A., Seibert, R., Grant, P., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 93 (2): 238-240

  View details for DOI 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0174

  View details for Web of Science ID 000359327400009

• Cytomegalovirus load at treatment initiation is predictive of time to resolution of viremia and duration of therapy in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY Tan, S. K., Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 69: 179-183

  Abstract

  Preemptive antiviral therapy relies on viral load measurements and is the mainstay of cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. However, optimal CMV levels for the initiation of preemptive therapy have not been defined.The objectives of our work were to evaluate the relationship between plasma CMV DNA levels at initiation of preemptive therapy with time to resolution of viremia and duration of treatment.Retrospective analysis of HCT recipients undergoing serial CMV PCR testing between June 2011 and June 2014 was performed.221 HCT recipients underwent preemptive therapy for 305 episodes of CMV viremia. Median time to resolution was shorter when treatment was initiated at lower CMV levels (15 days at 135-440 international units (IU)/mL, 18 days at 441-1000IU/mL, and 21 days at >1000IU/mL, P<.001). Prolonged viremia lasting >30 days occurred less frequently when treatment was initiated at 135-440IU/mL compared to 441-1000IU/mL and >1000IU/mL (1%, 15%, 24%, P<.001). Median treatment duration was also shorter in the lower viral load groups (28, 34, 37 days, P<.001).Initiation of preemptive therapy at low CMV levels was associated with shorter episodes of viremia and courses of antiviral therapy. These data support the utility of initiating preemptive CMV therapy at viral loads as low as 135IU/mL in HCT recipients.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.06.006

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358318400037

• Reverse-Transcriptase PCR Detection of Leptospira: Absence of Agreement with Single-Specimen Microscopic Agglutination Testing PLOS ONE Waggoner, J. J., Balassiano, I., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Vital-Brazil, J. M., Sahoo, M. K., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 10 (7)

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0132988

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358197600195

• How great is the threat of chikungunya virus? Expert review of anti-infective therapy Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 13 (3): 291-293

  Abstract

  In the last decade, chikungunya virus has emerged from an obscure arbovirus that caused limited outbreaks of disease in Africa and Asia to the cause of a pandemic affecting millions of people and spanning five continents. Two separate chikungunya virus genotypes have been responsible for outbreaks during this period, including strains adapted to transmission in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Further spread of this virus into new regions of the Western Hemisphere is predicted during the present rainy season in the tropics, and recurrent viral introductions and disease outbreaks, as occurred in Réunion in 2010, should be expected. Chikungunya virus no longer simply threatens; it has arrived as a significant, global pathogen.

  View details for DOI 10.1586/14787210.2015.995634

  View details for PubMedID 25537007

• Improved serotype-specific dengue virus detection in Trinidad and Tobago using a multiplex, real-time RT-PCR. Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Waggoner, J. J., Sahadeo, N. S., Brown, A., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Hadley, D., Carrington, L., Carrington, C. V., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 81 (2): 105-106

  Abstract

  Dengue virus (DENV) transmission occurs throughout the Caribbean, though laboratory confirmation and epidemiologic surveillance are limited by the availability of serotype-specific molecular diagnostics. In this study, we show that a serotype-specific DENV multiplex, real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) detected DENV RNA in significantly more samples (82/182) than a reference hemi-nested RT-PCR (57/182; P=0.01).

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2014.10.001

  View details for PubMedID 25533614

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4297500

• Norovirus CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS Robilotti, E., Deresinski, S., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 28 (1): 134-164

  View details for DOI 10.1128/CMR.00075-14

  View details for Web of Science ID 000347460400006

• Reverse-Transcriptase PCR Detection of Leptospira: Absence of Agreement with Single-Specimen Microscopic Agglutination Testing. PloS one Waggoner, J. J., Balassiano, I., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Vital-Brazil, J. M., Sahoo, M. K., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 10 (7)

  Abstract

  Reference diagnostic tests for leptospirosis include nucleic acid amplification tests, bacterial culture, and microscopic agglutination testing (MAT) of acute and convalescent serum. However, clinical laboratories often do not receive paired specimens. In the current study, we tested serum samples using a highly sensitive real-time nucleic acid amplification test for Leptospira and compared results to MAT performed on the same specimens.478 serum samples from suspected leptospirosis cases in Rio de Janeiro were tested using a real-time RT-PCR for the diagnosis of leptospirosis, malaria and dengue (the Lepto-MD assay). The Lepto-MD assay detects all species of Leptospira (saprophytic, intermediate, and pathogenic), and in the current study, we demonstrate that this assay amplifies both Leptospira RNA and DNA. Dengue virus RNA was identified in 10 patients, and no cases of malaria were detected. A total of 65 samples (13.6%) were positive for Leptospira: 35 samples (7.3%) in the Lepto-MD assay, 33 samples (6.9%) by MAT, and 3 samples tested positive by both (kappa statistic 0.02). Poor agreement between methods was consistent regardless of the titer used to define positive MAT results or the day of disease at sample collection. Leptospira nucleic acids were detected in the Lepto-MD assay as late as day 22, and cycle threshold values did not differ based on the day of disease. When Lepto-MD assay results were added to the MAT results for all patients in 2008 (n=818), the number of detected leptospirosis cases increased by 30.4%, from 102 (12.5%) to 133 (16.3%).This study demonstrates a lack of agreement between nucleic acid detection of Leptospira and single-specimen MAT, which may result from the clearance of bacteremia coinciding with the appearance of agglutinating antibodies. A combined testing strategy for acute leptospirosis, including molecular and serologic testing, appears necessary to maximize case detection.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0132988

  View details for PubMedID 26177295

• Norovirus. Clinical microbiology reviews Robilotti, E., Deresinski, S., Pinsky, B. A. 2015; 28 (1): 134-164

  Abstract

  Norovirus, an RNA virus of the family Caliciviridae, is a human enteric pathogen that causes substantial morbidity across both health care and community settings. Several factors enhance the transmissibility of norovirus, including the small inoculum required to produce infection (<100 viral particles), prolonged viral shedding, and its ability to survive in the environment. In this review, we describe the basic virology and immunology of noroviruses, the clinical disease resulting from infection and its diagnosis and management, as well as host and pathogen factors that complicate vaccine development. Additionally, we discuss overall epidemiology, infection control strategies, and global reporting efforts aimed at controlling this worldwide cause of acute gastroenteritis. Prompt implementation of infection control measures remains the mainstay of norovirus outbreak management.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/CMR.00075-14

  View details for PubMedID 25567225

• Sensitive Real-Time PCR Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. and a Comparison of Nucleic Acid Amplification Methods for the Diagnosis of Leptospirosis PLOS ONE Waggoner, J. J., Balassiano, I., Abeynayake, J., Sahoo, M. K., Mohamed-Hadley, A., Liu, Y., Vital-Brazil, J. M., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 9 (11)

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0112356

  View details for Web of Science ID 000344863100077

• Commutability of the Epstein-Barr virus WHO international standard across two quantitative PCR methods. Journal of clinical microbiology Abeynayake, J., Johnson, R., Libiran, P., Sahoo, M. K., Cao, H., Bowen, R., Chan, K. C., Le, Q., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 52 (10): 3802-3804

  Abstract

  The commutability of international reference standards is critical for ensuring quantitative agreement across different viral load assays. Here, we demonstrate the commutability of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) WHO international standard for the BamHI-W and artus EBV assays.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01676-14

  View details for PubMedID 25078918

• Commutability of the Epstein-Barr Virus WHO International Standard across Two Quantitative PCR Methods JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Abeynayake, J., Johnson, R., Libiran, P., Sahoo, M. K., Cao, H., Bowen, R., Chan, K. C., Quynh-Thu Le, Q. T., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 52 (10): 3802-3804

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01676-14

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342371700042

• Encephalitis caused by chikungunya virus in a traveler from the kingdom of tonga. Journal of clinical microbiology Nelson, J., Waggoner, J. J., Sahoo, M. K., Grant, P. M., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 52 (9): 3459-3461

  Abstract

  Febrile travelers from countries with unique endemic pathogens pose a significant diagnostic challenge. In this report, we describe the case of a Tongan man presenting with fever, rash, and altered mental status. The diagnosis of Chikungunya encephalitis was made using a laboratory-developed real-time RT-PCR and serologic testing.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01288-14

  View details for PubMedID 24958800

• Improved detection of emerging drug-resistant mutant cytomegalovirus subpopulations by deep sequencing. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy Chou, S., Ercolani, R. J., Sahoo, M. K., Lefterova, M. I., Strasfeld, L. M., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 58 (8): 4697-4702

  Abstract

  In immunosuppressed hosts, the development of multidrug resistance complicates the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Improved genotypic detection of impending drug resistance may follow from recent technical advances. A severely T-cell-depleted patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed CMV pneumonia and high plasma viral loads that were poorly responsive to antiviral therapy. Serial plasma specimens were analyzed for mutant viral populations by conventional and high-throughput deep-sequencing methods. Uncharacterized mutations were phenotyped for drug resistance using recombinant viruses. Conventional genotyping detected viruses with the UL97 kinase substitution C607Y after ganciclovir treatment, a transient subpopulation of UL54 polymerase L773V mutants first detected 8 weeks after foscarnet was started, and a subpopulation of a mutant with deletion of UL54 codons 981 and 982 2 months after the addition of cidofovir. Deep sequencing of the same serial specimens revealed the same UL54 mutants sooner, along with a more complex evolution of known and newly recognized mutant subpopulations missed by conventional sequencing. The UL54 exonuclease substitutions D413N, K513R, and C539G were newly shown to confer ganciclovir-cidofovir resistance, while L773V was shown to confer foscarnet resistance and add to the ganciclovir resistance conferred by UL97 C607Y. Increased sequencing depth provided a more timely and detailed diagnosis of mutant viral subpopulations that evolved with changing anti-CMV therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/AAC.03214-14

  View details for PubMedID 24890586

• Multiplex nucleic Acid amplification test for diagnosis of dengue Fever, malaria, and leptospirosis. Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Abeynayake, J., Balassiano, I., Lefterova, M., Sahoo, M. K., Liu, Y., Vital-Brazil, J. M., Gresh, L., Balmaseda, A., Harris, E., Banaei, N., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 52 (6): 2011-2018

  Abstract

  Dengue, leptospirosis, and malaria are among the most common etiologies of systemic undifferentiated febrile illness (UFI) among travelers to the developing world, and these pathogens all have the potential to cause life-threatening illness in returned travelers. The current study describes the development of an internally controlled multiplex nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of dengue virus (DENV) and Leptospira and Plasmodium species, with a specific callout for Plasmodium falciparum (referred to as the UFI assay). During analytical evaluation, the UFI assay displayed a wide dynamic range and a sensitive limit of detection for each target, including all four DENV serotypes. In a clinical evaluation including 210 previously tested samples, the sensitivities of the UFI assay were 98% for DENV (58/59 samples detected) and 100% for Leptospira and malaria (65/65 and 20/20 samples, respectively). Malaria samples included all five Plasmodium species known to cause human disease. The specificity of the UFI assay was 100% when evaluated with a panel of 66 negative clinical samples. Furthermore, no amplification was observed when extracted nucleic acids from related pathogens were tested. Compared with whole-blood samples, the UFI assay remained positive for Plasmodium in 11 plasma samples from patients with malaria (parasitemia levels of 0.0037 to 3.4%). The syndrome-based design of the UFI assay, combined with the sensitivities of the component tests, represents a significant improvement over the individual diagnostic tests available for these pathogens.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00341-14

  View details for PubMedID 24671788

• Reply to "Inconclusive reverse transcription-PCR assay comparison for dengue virus detection and serotyping". Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 52 (5): 1801-1802

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00013-14

  View details for PubMedID 24744403

• Evaluation of serial urine viral cultures for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in neonates and infants. Pediatric and developmental pathology Chisholm, K. M., Aziz, N., McDowell, M., Guo, F. P., Srinivas, N., Benitz, W. E., Norton, M. E., Gutierrez, K., Folkins, A. K., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 17 (3): 176-180

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection worldwide. Urine viral culture is the standard for CMV diagnosis in neonates and infants. The objectives of this study were to compare the performance of serial paired rapid shell vial cultures (SVC) and routine viral cultures (RVC), and to determine the optimal number of cultures needed to detect positive cases. From 2001 to 2011, all paired CMV SVC and RVC performed on neonates and infants less than 100 days of age were recorded. Testing episodes were defined as sets of cultures performed within 7 days of one another. A total of 1264 neonates and infants underwent 1478 testing episodes; 68 (5.4%) had at least one episode with a positive CMV culture. In episodes where CMV was detected before day 21 of life, the first specimen was positive in 100% (16/16) of cases. When testing occurred after 21 days of life, the first specimen was positive in 82.7% (43/52) of cases, requiring three cultures to reach 100% detection. The SVC was more prone to assay failure than RVC. Overall, when RVC was compared to SVC, there was 86.0% positive agreement and 99.9% negative agreement. In conclusion, three serial urine samples are necessary for detection of CMV in specimens collected between day of life 22 and 99, while one sample may be sufficient on or before day of life 21. Though SVC was more sensitive than RVC, the risk of SVC failure supports the use of multimodality testing to optimize detection.

  View details for DOI 10.2350/14-01-1432-OA.1

  View details for PubMedID 24617645

• Human Papilloma Virus is not Prevalent in Nevus Sebaceus PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY Kim, D., Benjamin, L. T., Sahoo, M. K., Kim, J., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 31 (3): 326-330

  Abstract

  Nevus sebaceus (NS) is a common congenital cutaneous hamartoma that typically presents on the scalp and face at birth or in early childhood. Occasionally NS can be associated with the Schimmelpenning-Feuerstein-Mims syndrome, which presents with concomitant severe neurologic, skeletal, cardiovascular, ophthalmic, and genitourologic disorders. In a previous study, maternal transmission of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and infection of ectodermal stem cells by HPV was postulated to result in the development of NS. In this study we aimed to determine the incidence of HPV infection in pediatric NS samples to further clarify the potential link between HPV and the pathogenesis of NS. NS tissue samples (N = 16) were analyzed for HPV DNA using type-specific, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 and conventional PCR with modified general primers designed for broad-range HPV detection. The tissues were also histologically evaluated for evidence of HPV infection. HPV DNA was not detected in any of the NS tissue samples using PCR and HPV-associated histopathologic changes were absent in all 16 NS tissues. HPV infection is an unlikely etiologic cause of NS.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/pde.12249

  View details for Web of Science ID 000334884300017

  View details for PubMedID 24224641

• Comparison of automated nucleic acid extraction methods for the detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in fluids and tissues. PeerJ Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 2

  Abstract

  Testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA is increasingly being used for specimen types other than plasma or whole blood. However, few studies have investigated the performance of different nucleic acid extraction protocols in such specimens. In this study, CMV extraction using the Cell-free 1000 and Pathogen Complex 400 protocols on the QIAsymphony Sample Processing (SP) system were compared using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), tissue samples, and urine. The QIAsymphonyAssay Set-up (AS) system was used to assemble reactions using artus CMV PCR reagents and amplification was carried out on the Rotor-Gene Q. Samples from 93 patients previously tested for CMV DNA and negative samples spiked with CMV AD-169 were used to evaluate assay performance. The Pathogen Complex 400 protocol yielded the following results: BAL, sensitivity 100% (33/33), specificity 87% (20/23); tissue, sensitivity 100% (25/25), specificity 100% (20/20); urine, sensitivity 100% (21/21), specificity 100% (20/20). Cell-free 1000 extraction gave comparable results for BAL and tissue, however, for urine, the sensitivity was 86% (18/21) and specimen quantitation was inaccurate. Comparative studies of different extraction protocols and DNA detection methods in body fluids and tissues are needed, as assays optimized for blood or plasma will not necessarily perform well on other specimen types.

  View details for DOI 10.7717/peerj.334

  View details for PubMedID 24765569

• Comparison of automated nucleic acid extraction methods for the detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in fluids and tissues. PeerJ Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2014; 2

  View details for DOI 10.7717/peerj.334

  View details for PubMedID 24765569

• BK Polyomavirus Subtype III in a Pediatric Renal Transplant Patient with Nephropathy. Journal of clinical microbiology Kapusinszky, B., Chen, S. F., Sahoo, M. K., Lefterova, M. I., Kjelson, L., Grimm, P. C., Kambham, N., Concepcion, W., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 51 (12): 4255-4258

  Abstract

  BK polyomavirus (BKV) is an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. BKV subtype III is rarely identified and has not previously been associated with disease. Here we provide the whole-genome sequence of a subtype III BKV from a pediatric kidney transplant patient with polyomavirus-associated nephropathy.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01801-13

  View details for PubMedID 24048534

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3838085

• Detection of cytomegalovirus drug resistance mutations by next-generation sequencing. Journal of clinical microbiology Sahoo, M. K., Lefterova, M. I., Yamamoto, F., Waggoner, J. J., Chou, S., Holmes, S. P., Anderson, M. W., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 51 (11): 3700-3710

  Abstract

  Antiviral therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) plays an important role in the clinical management of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. However, CMV antiviral therapy can be complicated by drug resistance associated with mutations in the phosphotransferase UL97 and the DNA polymerase UL54. We have developed an amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing strategy for detecting CMV drug resistance mutations in clinical plasma specimens using a microfluidics PCR platform for multiplexed library preparation and a benchtop next-generation sequencing instrument. Plasmid clones of the UL97 and UL54 genes were used to demonstrate the low overall empirical error rate of the assay (0.189%) and to develop a statistical algorithm for identifying authentic low-abundance variants. The ability of the assay to detect resistance mutations was tested with mixes of wild-type and mutant plasmids, as well as clinical CMV isolates and plasma samples that were known to contain mutations that confer resistance. Finally, 48 clinical plasma specimens with a range of viral loads (394 to 2,191,011 copies/ml plasma) were sequenced using multiplexing of up to 24 specimens per run. This led to the identification of seven resistance mutations, three of which were present in <20% of the sequenced population. Thus, this assay offers more sensitive detection of minor variants and a higher multiplexing capacity than current methods for the genotypic detection of CMV drug resistance mutations.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01605-13

  View details for PubMedID 23985916

• Profound plasmacytosis in a patient with dengue. International journal of hematology Ewalt, M. D., Abeynayake, J., Waggoner, J. J., Pinsky, B. A., Ohgami, R. S. 2013; 98 (5): 518-519

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s12185-013-1452-3

  View details for PubMedID 24114365

• Comparison of the FDA-Approved CDC DENV-1-4 Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR with a Laboratory-Developed Assay for Dengue Virus Detection and Serotyping. Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Abeynayake, J., Sahoo, M. K., Gresh, L., Tellez, Y., Gonzalez, K., Ballesteros, G., Guo, F. P., Balmaseda, A., Karunaratne, K., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 51 (10): 3418-3420

  Abstract

  Dengue virus (DENV) is the agent of the most common vector-borne disease worldwide. Using 199 clinical samples collected from Nicaragua and Sri Lanka, a laboratory-developed DENV multiplex real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) proved more clinically sensitive than the FDA-approved CDC assay for DENV serotypes 1 to 4 when measured against a composite reference standard, with sensitivities of 97.4% versus 87.1%, respectively.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.01359-13

  View details for PubMedID 23903549

• Diagnosis of Congenital CMV Using PCR Performed on Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Placental Tissue. American journal of surgical pathology Folkins, A. K., Chisholm, K. M., Guo, F. P., McDowell, M., Aziz, N., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 37 (9): 1413-1420

  Abstract

  Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may be asymptomatic until hearing loss manifests in childhood. Because diagnosis of congenital CMV requires viral detection within an infant's first 21 days of life, CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) placental tissue provides a unique opportunity to identify congenital exposure in cases in which CMV is not initially suspected. To assess the utility of this approach, a database of all CMV cultures performed from July 2001 to March 2012 was used to identify infants in whom urine CMV cultures were obtained within 100 days of life. Corresponding placentas were then identified through the pathology database. The database was also queried to identify placentas in which CMV immunohistochemical analysis had been performed. CMV PCR was positive in FFPE placental tissue from 100% (5/5) of cases in which the first urine culture collected before the first 21 days of life was positive. Placentas from 20 infants with negative CMV urine cultures were CMV PCR negative. Interestingly, CMV was detected in 12.5% (1/8) of placentas in which the first CMV-positive urine culture was collected after the first 21 days of life. Furthermore, 4% (1/26) of placentas with chronic villitis by histology (no urine cultures available) were CMV PCR positive. In the 10 CMV PCR-positive placentas, including 3 cases of fetal demise, CMV immunohistochemistry was positive in just 6 cases. These results suggest that the confirmation of CMV exposure in utero by PCR of FFPE placental tissue provides a useful adjunct to histologic evaluation and may identify infants requiring close clinical follow-up.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318290f171

  View details for PubMedID 23797721

• Development of an internally controlled real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay for pan-dengue virus detection and comparison of four molecular dengue virus detection assays. Journal of clinical microbiology Waggoner, J. J., Abeynayake, J., Sahoo, M. K., Gresh, L., Tellez, Y., Gonzalez, K., Ballesteros, G., Balmaseda, A., Karunaratne, K., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 51 (7): 2172-2181

  Abstract

  A number of diagnostic tests are available for dengue virus (DENV) detection, including a variety of nucleic-acid amplification tests (NAATs). However, reports describing the direct comparison of different NAATs are limited. In this study, we report the design of an internally-controlled, real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) that detects all four DENV serotypes but does not distinguish between them (the pan-DENV assay). Two-hundred clinical samples were then tested using four different DENV RT-PCR assays: the pan-DENV assay; a commercially-produced, internally-controlled DENV rRT-PCR (the Altona assay); a widely-used hemi-nested RT-PCR; and a serotype-specific, multiplex rRT-PCR assay. The pan-DENV assay had a linear range extending from 7.0 to 1.0 log10 complimentary DNA (cDNA) equivalents/μL and a lower limit of 95% detection ranging from 1.7 to 7.6 cDNA equivalents/μL depending on the serotype. When measured against a composite reference standard, the pan-DENV assay proved more clinically sensitive than either the Altona or hemi-nested assays, with a sensitivity of 98.0% compared to 72.3% and 78.8%, respectively (p≤0.0001 for both comparisons). The pan-DENV assay detected DENV in significantly more samples collected on or after day five of illness and in a subgroup of patients with detectable anti-DENV IgM at presentation. No significant difference in sensitivity was observed between the pan-DENV assay and the multiplex rRT-PCR, despite the presence of an internal control in the former. The detection of DENV RNA late in the course of clinical illness should serve to lengthen the period during which a confirmed, molecular diagnosis of DENV infection can be provided.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00548-13

  View details for PubMedID 23637298

• A comparison of CMV detection in gastrointestinal mucosal biopsies using immunohistochemistry and PCR performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. American journal of surgical pathology Mills, A. M., Guo, F. P., Copland, A. P., Pai, R. K., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 37 (7): 995-1000

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can precipitate and exacerbate gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal injury. The gold standard for CMV detection in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is immunohistochemistry (IHC). Although CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on fresh tissue may be a valuable adjunct to IHC, its utility is unknown for FFPE tissues. We therefore evaluated quantitative, real-time CMV PCR in a total of 102 FFPE GI biopsy specimens from 74 patients with a history of hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant, inflammatory bowel disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, or unspecified colitis. CMV DNA was detected by PCR in 90.9% (30/33) of IHC-positive, 14.5% (8/55) of IHC-negative, and 20.0% (1/5) of IHC-equivocal FFPE tissues. Quantitation of CMV DNA copies normalized to β-globin demonstrated a wide range of values (median 0.276; range, 0.0004 to 144.50). Importantly, 93.3% (14/15) of patients with IHC-positive, active colitis showed no evidence of CMV in matched concurrent, histologically normal biopsies tested by PCR. These results suggest that CMV PCR on FFPE GI biopsies complements IHC and has the potential to identify additional patients who may benefit from anti-CMV therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e31827fcc33

  View details for PubMedID 23648457

• p16 Is Superior to ProEx C in Identifying High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) of the Anal Canal AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY Bala, R., Pinsky, B. A., Beck, A. H., Kong, C. S., Welton, M. L., Longacre, T. A. 2013; 37 (5): 659-668

  Abstract

  Although the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anal neoplasia is increasing, interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility in the grading of biopsy specimens from this area remains unacceptably low. Attempts to produce a more reproducible grading scheme have led to the use of biomarkers for the detection of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV). We evaluated the performance of standard morphology and biomarkers p16, ProEx C, and Ki-67 in a set of 75 lesions [17 nondysplastic lesions, 23 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL)/condyloma, 20 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 15 invasive squamous cell carcinomas] from the anal and perianal region in 65 patients and correlated these findings with HPV subtype on the basis of a type-specific multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay designed to detect HR-HPV. A subset of cases with amplifiable HPV DNA was also sequenced. HSIL was typically flat (15/20), and only a minority (4/20) had koilocytes. In contrast, only 1 LSIL was flat (1/23), and the remainder were exophytic. The majority of LSIL had areas of koilocytic change (20/23). HR-HPV DNA was detected in the majority (89%) of invasive carcinomas and HSIL biopsies, 86% and 97% of which were accurately labeled by strong and diffuse block-positive p16 and ProEx C, respectively. LSIL cases, however, only infrequently harbored HR-HPV (13%); most harbored low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) types 6 and 11. Within the LSIL group, p16 outperformed ProEx C, resulting in fewer false-positive cases (5% vs. 75%). Ki-67 was also increased in HR-HPV-positive lesions, although biopsies with increased inflammation and reactive changes also showed higher Ki-67 indices. These data suggest that strong and diffuse block-positive nuclear and cytoplasmic labeling with p16 is a highly specific biomarker for the presence of HR-HPV in anal biopsies and that this finding correlates with high-grade lesions.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e31828706c0

  View details for Web of Science ID 000317663100005

  View details for PubMedID 23552383

• An international collaboration to harmonize the quantitative plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA assay for future biomarker-guided trials in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Clinical cancer research Le, Q., Zhang, Q., Cao, H., Cheng, A., Pinsky, B. A., Hong, R., Chang, J. T., Wang, C., Tsao, K., Lo, Y. D., Lee, N., Ang, K. K., Chan, A. T., Chan, K. C. 2013; 19 (8): 2208-2215

  Abstract

  Persistently elevated posttreatment plasma EBV DNA is a robust predictor of relapse in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, assay standardization is necessary for use in biomarker-driven trials. We conducted a study to harmonize the method between four centers with expertise in EBV DNA quantitation.Plasma samples of 40 patients with NPC were distributed to four centers. DNA was extracted and EBV DNA copy number was determined by real-time quantitative PCR (BamHI-W primer/probe). Centers used the same protocol but generated their own calibrators. A harmonization study was then conducted using the same calibrators and PCR master mix and validated with ten pooled samples.The initial intraclass correlations (ICC) for the first 40 samples between each center and the index center were 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.78], 0.70 (0.50-0.83), and 0.59 (0.35-0.76). The largest variability was the use of different PCR master mixes and calibrators. Standardization improved ICC to 0.83 (0.5-0.95), 0.95 (0.83-0.99) and 0.96 (0.86-0.99), respectively, for ten archival frozen samples. For fresh plasma with spiked-in EBV DNA, correlations were more than 0.99 between the centers. At 5 EBV DNA copies per reaction or above, the coefficient of variance (CV) was less than 10% for the cycle threshold (Ct) among all centers, suggesting this concentration can be reliably used as a cutoff for defining the presence of detectable EBV DNA.Quantitative PCR assays, even when conducted in experienced clinical labs, can yield large variability in plasma EBV DNA copy numbers without harmonization. The use of common calibrators and PCR master mix can help to reduce variability.

  View details for DOI 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-3702

  View details for PubMedID 23459720

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3630245

• CMV antigenemia and quantitative viral load assessments in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY Cardenoso, L., Pinsky, B. A., Lautenschlager, I., Aslam, S., Cobb, B., Vilchez, R. A., Hirsch, H. H. 2013; 56 (2): 108-112

  Abstract

  Sensitive and reliable diagnostic tests are essential for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). pp65 antigenemia and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are commonly used to monitor CMV in HSCT recipients. However, there is considerable intra- and inter-laboratory variability in the results, which impact comparability and clinical practice. OBJECTIVES/STUDY DESIGN: Using 380 samples from 135 HSCT recipients, we compared the new FDA approved quantitative PCR assay, COBAS(®) AmpliPrep/COBAS(®) TaqMan(®) CMV test (CAP/CTM CMV test) developed and standardized using the 1st WHO International Standard for CMV with pp65 antigenemia and COBAS(®) AMPLICOR MONITOR CMV tests.The median time between transplantation and testing samples was 57 days (range, 0-207 days). The median CMV load (log(10)) was 3.17 IU/mL (3.21 copies/mL). Among samples with detectable CMV load, 52% were negative by pp65 antigenemia. CMV loads were higher in pp65 antigenemia-positive than in negative samples. One pp65-antigenemia-positive cell per 100,000 leukocytes corresponded to a median CMV load of 1200 IU/mL. CMV loads determined by the CAP/CTM CMV test were slightly lower than the ones by the AMPLICOR MONITOR CMV test (-0.15 [95% CI, -0.18 to -0.13] copies/mL), but slope differences indicated only limited co-linearity.The CAP/CTM CMV test is more sensitive than pp65 antigenemia and the AMPLICOR MONITOR CMV test in HSCT recipients. The lower limit of quantification and co-linearity with the international WHO standard renders the CAP/CTM CMV test suitable for future clinical trials defining viral load thresholds of CMV therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.10.001

  View details for Web of Science ID 000313565100004

  View details for PubMedID 23146665

• An International Multicenter Performance Analysis of Cytomegalovirus Load Tests CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Hirsch, H. H., Lautenschlager, I., Pinsky, B. A., Cardenoso, L., Aslam, S., Cobb, B., Vilchez, R. A., Valsamakis, A. 2013; 56 (3): 367-373

  Abstract

  Quantification of cytomegalovirus (CMV) load is central to the management of CMV infections in immunocompromised patients, but quantitative results currently differ significantly across methods and laboratories.The COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV Test (CAP/CTM CMV test), developed using the first World Health Organization CMV standard in the calibration process, was compared to local assays used by 5 laboratories at transplant centers in the United States and Europe. Blinded plasma panels (n = 90) spiked with 2.18-6.7 log(10) copies/mL and clinical plasma samples from immunocompromised patients (n = 660) were tested.Observed mean panel member concentrations by site and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the data combined across sites were narrower for CAP/CTM CMV test compared with local assays. The 95% CI in log(10) copies/mL of the combined data per panel member for CAP/CTM CMV test vs comparator assays was .17 vs 1.5 at 2.18 log(10) copies/mL; .14 vs .52 at 2.74 log(10) copies/mL; .16 vs .6 at 3.3 log(10) copies/mL; .2 vs 1.11 at 4.3 log(10) copies/mL; .21 vs 1.13 at 4.7 log(10) copies/mL; and .18 vs 1.4 at 6.7 log(10) copies/mL. In clinical specimens, constant and variable quantification differences between the CAP/CTM CMV test and comparator assays were observed.High interlaboratory agreement and precision of CAP/CTM CMV test results across 5 different laboratories over 4 orders of magnitude suggest that this assay could be valuable in prospective studies identifying clinical viral load thresholds for CMV treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/cid/cis900

  View details for Web of Science ID 000313617400014

  View details for PubMedID 23097587

• Severe Hepatitis Associated with an Echovirus 18 Infection in an Immune-Compromised Adult JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Lefterova, M. I., Rivetta, C., George, T. I., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 51 (2): 684-687

  Abstract

  Enteroviruses are recognized as important pathogens in pediatric patients; however, they are often overlooked as etiologic agents of disease in adults. Here, we report a case of echovirus 18-associated severe systemic infection and acute liver failure in an adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient. Additionally, we illustrate the utility of molecular methods for the detection and typing of enteroviral infections.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.02405-12

  View details for Web of Science ID 000314108000055

  View details for PubMedID 23175267

• Laboratory-Developed L1 Sequencing and Type-Specific, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection and Typing of Human Papillomaviruses in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE Mills, A., Balasubramaniam, R., Longacre, T. A., Kong, C. S., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 137 (1): 50-54

  Abstract

  The detection and typing of high-risk and low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues by nucleic acid amplification testing is an important adjunct to immunohistochemical staining in evaluation of squamous cell proliferations of the oropharynx, larynx, and anal canal.To evaluate semiautomated, xylene-free extraction from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues combined with laboratory-developed HPV L1 sequencing and type-specific HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 real-time polymerase chain reaction for identification and typing of HPV in the clinical laboratory.We evaluated the adequacy of extraction using β-globin amplification and compared L1 sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction methods for typing accuracy using 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, including 56 anorectal biopsy or surgical resection specimens and 12 laryngeal papilloma specimens from patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.Adequate DNA was obtained from 68 of 68 specimens analyzed and all were HPV positive. In 47 cases where L1 sequencing demonstrated that the predominant HPV type was 6, 11, 16, or 18, type-specific, real-time polymerase chain reaction provided concordant results. Sequencing revealed additional low-risk (HPV 40) and high-risk HPV types (HPV 31, 33, 56, and 58) in anorectal specimens, whereas HPV 6 or 11 were the types found in laryngeal papillomas.Both L1 sequencing and type-specific, real-time polymerase chain reaction are suitable methods for routine HPV testing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues in a clinical laboratory setting.

  View details for DOI 10.5858/arpa.2011-0392-OA

  View details for Web of Science ID 000313625100009

  View details for PubMedID 23276174

• Single-reaction, multiplex, real-time rt-PCR for the detection, quantitation, and serotyping of dengue viruses. PLoS neglected tropical diseases Waggoner, J. J., Abeynayake, J., Sahoo, M. K., Gresh, L., Tellez, Y., Gonzalez, K., Ballesteros, G., Pierro, A. M., Gaibani, P., Guo, F. P., Sambri, V., Balmaseda, A., Karunaratne, K., Harris, E., Pinsky, B. A. 2013; 7 (4)

  Abstract

  Dengue fever results from infection with one or more of four different serotypes of dengue virus (DENV). Despite the widespread nature of this infection, available molecular diagnostics have significant limitations. The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex, real-time, reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR) for the detection, quantitation, and serotyping of dengue viruses in a single reaction.An rRT-PCR assay targeting the 5' untranslated region and capsid gene of the DENV genome was designed using molecular beacons to provide serotype specificity. Using reference DENV strains, the assay was linear from 7.0 to 1.0 log₁₀ cDNA equivalents/µL for each serotype. The lower limit of detection using genomic RNA was 0.3, 13.8, 0.8, and 12.4 cDNA equivalents/µL for serotypes 1-4, respectively, which was 6- to 275-fold more analytically sensitive than a widely used hemi-nested RT-PCR. Using samples from Nicaragua collected within the first five days of illness, the multiplex rRT-PCR was positive in 100% (69/69) of specimens that were positive by the hemi-nested assay, with full serotype agreement. Furthermore, the multiplex rRT-PCR detected DENV RNA in 97.2% (35/36) of specimens from Sri Lanka positive for anti-DENV IgM antibodies compared to just 44.4% (16/36) by the hemi-nested RT-PCR. No amplification was observed in 80 clinical samples sent for routine quantitative hepatitis C virus testing or when genomic RNA from other flaviviruses was tested.This single-reaction, quantitative, multiplex rRT-PCR for DENV serotyping demonstrates superior analytical and clinical performance, as well as simpler workflow compared to the hemi-nested RT-PCR reference. In particular, this multiplex rRT-PCR detects viral RNA and provides serotype information in specimens collected more than five days after fever onset and from patients who had already developed anti-DENV IgM antibodies. The implementation of this assay in dengue-endemic areas has the potential to improve both dengue diagnosis and epidemiologic surveillance.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002116

  View details for PubMedID 23638191

• Comparison of Xpert Flu rapid nucleic acid testing with rapid antigen testing for the diagnosis of influenza A and B JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS DiMaio, M. A., Sahoo, M. K., Waggoner, J., Pinsky, B. A. 2012; 186 (1-2): 137-140

  Abstract

  Influenza infections are associated with thousands of hospital admissions and deaths each year. Rapid detection of influenza is important for prompt initiation of antiviral therapy and appropriate patient triage. In this study the Cepheid Xpert Flu assay was compared with two rapid antigen tests, BinaxNOW Influenza A & B and BD Directigen EZ Flu A+B, as well as direct fluorescent antibody testing for the rapid detection of influenza A and B. Using real-time, hydrolysis probe-based, reverse transcriptase PCR as the reference method, influenza A sensitivity was 97.3% for Xpert Flu, 95.9% for direct fluorescent antibody testing, 62.2% for BinaxNOW, and 71.6% for BD Directigen. Influenza B sensitivity was 100% for Xpert Flu and direct fluorescent antibody testing, 54.5% for BinaxNOW, and 48.5% for BD Directigen. Specificity for influenza A was 100% for Xpert Flu, BinaxNOW, and BD Directigen, and 99.2% for direct fluorescent antibody testing. All methods demonstrated 100% specificity for influenza B. These findings support the use of the Xpert Flu assay in settings requiring urgent diagnosis of influenza A and B.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jviromet.2012.07.023

  View details for Web of Science ID 000312763600024

  View details for PubMedID 22841669

• Development of an Amplicon Enrichment and Barcoding Strategy for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Genotypic Drug Resistance Testing by Next-Generation Sequencing Annual Meeting of the Association-for-Molecular-Pathology Lefterova, M., Sahoo, M. K., Yamamoto, F., Farina, H., ANDERSON, M. W., Pinsky, B. A. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2012: 679–79

  View details for Web of Science ID 000310178600184

• Clinical Significance of Low Cytomegalovirus DNA Levels in Human Plasma JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Waggoner, J., Ho, D. Y., Libiran, P., Pinsky, B. A. 2012; 50 (7): 2378-2383

  Abstract

  The clinical significance of the detection of low copy numbers of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in immune-suppressed patients remains unclear. In this study, we compared the artus CMV Rotor-Gene PCR, utilizing an automated nucleic acid extraction and assay setup (the artus CMV protocol), with the COBAS Amplicor CMV Monitor test (our reference protocol). We then analyzed the results of all CMV PCR tests ordered following the implementation of the artus CMV protocol at our institution and followed 91 adult patients with positive test results. The artus CMV protocol had a linear range extending from 2.0 to 7.0 log(10) copies/ml and had a lower limit of 95% detection of 57 copies/ml. With archived plasma samples, this protocol demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 94% specificity for the detection of CMV DNA. Following implementation of the artus CMV protocol, 320 of 1,403 (22.8%) plasma samples tested positive (compared with 323/3,579 [9.0%] samples in the preceding 6 months), and 227 (16.2%) samples had copy numbers of <400/ml. Ninety-one adult patients had at least one positive test. The data were analyzed using a threshold of 200 copies/ml, and in 22 episodes, the viral load increased from <200 copies/ml to ≥ 200 copies/ml on sequential tests. In 21 of these 22 episodes, either the viral load continued to increase or antiviral treatment was initiated in response to the repeat value. In summary, we evaluate the performance characteristics of a protocol utilizing the artus CMV PCR and identify clinically meaningful changes in CMV DNA copy numbers even when they are initially detected at a low level.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.06800-11

  View details for Web of Science ID 000307360800033

  View details for PubMedID 22518866

• Quantitation of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Plasma of Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Patients INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS Cao, H., Banh, A., Kwok, S., Shi, X., Wu, S., Krakow, T., Khong, B., Bavan, B., Bala, R., Pinsky, B. A., Colevas, D., Pourmand, N., Koong, A. C., Kong, C. S., Quynh-Thu Le, Q. T. 2012; 82 (3): E351-E358

  Abstract

  To determine whether human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA can be detected in the plasma of patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and to monitor its temporal change during radiotherapy.We used polymerase chain reaction to detect HPV DNA in the culture media of HPV-positive SCC90 and VU147T cells and the plasma of SCC90 and HeLa tumor-bearing mice, non-tumor-bearing controls, and those with HPV-negative tumors. We used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to quantify the plasma HPV DNA in 40 HPV-positive OPC, 24 HPV-negative head-and-neck cancer patients and 10 non-cancer volunteers. The tumor HPV status was confirmed by p16(INK4a) staining and HPV16/18 polymerase chain reaction or HPV in situ hybridization. A total of 14 patients had serial plasma samples for HPV DNA quantification during radiotherapy.HPV DNA was detectable in the plasma samples of SCC90- and HeLa-bearing mice but not in the controls. It was detected in 65% of the pretreatment plasma samples from HPV-positive OPC patients using E6/7 quantitative polymerase chain reaction. None of the HPV-negative head-and-neck cancer patients or non-cancer controls had detectable HPV DNA. The pretreatment plasma HPV DNA copy number correlated significantly with the nodal metabolic tumor volume (assessed using (18)F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography). The serial measurements in 14 patients showed a rapid decline in HPV DNA that had become undetectable at radiotherapy completion. In 3 patients, the HPV DNA level had increased to a discernable level at metastasis.Xenograft studies indicated that plasma HPV DNA is released from HPV-positive tumors. Circulating HPV DNA was detectable in most HPV-positive OPC patients. Thus, plasma HPV DNA might be a valuable tool for identifying relapse.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.05.061

  View details for Web of Science ID 000300423500003

  View details for PubMedID 21985946

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3257411

• A Synonymous Change in the Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Gene Interferes with PCR-Based Subtyping and Oseltamivir Resistance Mutation Detection JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Trevino, C., Bihon, S., Pinsky, B. A. 2011; 49 (8): 3101-3102

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00642-11

  View details for Web of Science ID 000293221900067

  View details for PubMedID 21697334

• Ultrasensitive Detection of Drug-Resistant Pandemic 2009 (H1N1) Influenza A Virus by Rare-Variant-Sensitive High-Resolution Melting-Curve Analysis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Chen, N., Pinsky, B. A., Lee, B. P., Lin, M., Schrijver, I. 2011; 49 (7): 2602-2609

  Abstract

  Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), an oral neuraminidase inhibitor, has been widely used to treat pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza A. Although a majority of 2009 (H1N1) influenza A virus remains oseltamivir susceptible, the threat of resistance due to the His275Tyr mutation is highlighted by the limitations of alternative therapies and the potential for rapid, global fixation of this mutation in the circulating influenza A virus population. In order to better understand the emergence of resistance, we developed a rare-variant-sensitive high-resolution melting-curve analysis method (RVS-HRM) that is able to detect the His275Tyr oseltamivir resistance mutation to 0.5% in a background of susceptible virus. We applied RVS-HRM to clinical specimens from patients who developed oseltamivir resistance and demonstrated the ultrasensitive detection of influenza A virus N1 neuraminidase quasispecies. Interestingly, we were unable to detect the oseltamivir resistance mutation in pretreatment samples, suggesting that resistant virus does not reach even this very low detection threshold until exposed to selective drug pressure. Thus, patients naive to oseltamivir are most likely to be susceptible when this drug is used as a first-line treatment modality.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00277-11

  View details for Web of Science ID 000292276200035

  View details for PubMedID 21543559

• The Persistence of Influenza Infection Response EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Pinsky, B., Baron, E. J. 2010; 16 (11): 1818-1819

  View details for DOI 10.3201/eid1611.101431

  View details for Web of Science ID 000283699700043

• Rare Variant Sensitive High Resolution Melting Demonstrates that the His275Tyr Substitution in Pandemic H1N1 Influenza A Virus Appears after Oseltamivir Treatment in Infected Patients 16th Annual Meeting of the Association-for-Molecular-Pathology Chen, N., Pinsky, B. A., Lee, B., Lin, M., Schrijver, I. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2010: 875–75

  View details for Web of Science ID 000283973700096

• Long-term Shedding of Influenza A Virus in Stool of Immunocompromised Child EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Pinsky, B. A., Mix, S., Rowe, J., Ikemoto, S., Baron, E. J. 2010; 16 (7): 1165-1167

  Abstract

  In immunocompromised patients, influenza infection may progress to prolonged viral shedding from the respiratory tract despite antiviral therapy. We describe chronic influenza A virus infection in an immunocompromised child who had prolonged shedding of culturable influenza virus in stool.

  View details for DOI 10.3201/eid1607.091248

  View details for Web of Science ID 000279522200024

  View details for PubMedID 20587197

• Real-Time PCR Testing for mecA Reduces Vancomycin Usage and Length of Hospitalization for Patients Infected with Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococci JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Nguyen, D. T., Yeh, E., Perry, S., Luo, R. F., Pinsky, B. A., Lee, B. P., Sisodiya, D., Baron, E. J., Banaei, N. 2010; 48 (3): 785-790

  Abstract

  Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have revolutionized infectious disease diagnosis, allowing for the rapid and sensitive identification of pathogens in clinical specimens. Real-time PCR testing for the mecA gene (mecA PCR), which confers methicillin resistance in staphylococci, has the added potential to reduce antibiotic usage, improve clinical outcomes, lower health care costs, and avoid emergence of drug resistance. A retrospective study was performed to identify patients infected with methicillin-sensitive staphylococcal isolates who were receiving vancomycin treatment when susceptibility results became available. Vancomycin treatment and length of hospitalization were compared in these patients for a 6-month period before and after implementation of mecA PCR. Among 65 and 94 patients identified before and after mecA PCR, respectively, vancomycin usage (measured in days on therapy) declined from a median of 3 days (range, 1 to 44 days) in the pre-PCR period to 1 day (range, 0 to 18 days) in the post-PCR period (P < 0.0001). In total, 38.5% (25/65) of patients were switched to beta-lactam therapy in the pre-PCR period, compared to 61.7% (58/94) in the post-PCR period (P = 0.004). Patient hospitalization days also declined from a median of 8 days (range, 1 to 47 days) in the pre-PCR period to 5 days (range, 0 to 42 days) in the post-PCR period (P = 0.03). Real-time PCR testing for mecA is an effective tool for reducing vancomycin usage and length of stay of hospitalized patients infected with methicillin-sensitive staphylococci. In the face of ever-rising health care expenditures in the United States, these findings have important implications for improving outcomes and decreasing costs.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.02150-09

  View details for Web of Science ID 000274996200016

  View details for PubMedID 20071556

• Preferential Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Swine-Origin 2009 A(H1N1) Influenza CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Yeh, E., Luo, R. F., Dyner, L., Hong, D. K., Banaei, N., Baron, E. J., Pinsky, B. A. 2010; 50 (3): 391-394

  Abstract

  We report a case of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus infection in which virus was detected predominantly in specimens from the lower respiratory tract but was absent or at very low levels in nasopharyngeal swab samples. This presentation suggests that, in certain hosts or for particular variants of 2009 A(H1N1) virus, the lower respiratory tract may be the preferred site of infection.

  View details for DOI 10.1086/649875

  View details for Web of Science ID 000273500300014

  View details for PubMedID 20047483

• Comparison of Real-Time PCR and Conventional Biochemical Methods for Identification of Staphylococcus lugdunensis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Samson, D., Ghafghaichi, L., Baron, E. J., Banaei, N. 2009; 47 (11): 3472-3477

  Abstract

  Staphylococcus lugdunensis is an aggressive, virulent member of the coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) that is responsible for severe, rapidly progressive skin and soft tissue infections and native valve endocarditis. To facilitate prompt identification and appropriate therapy, we describe here a rapid and robust multiplex real-time PCR assay that is able to definitively distinguish S. lugdunensis from other staphylococci. Using melting curve analysis, the assay also identifies Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS other than S. lugdunensis and determines MecA-dependent resistance to methicillin (meticillin). When applied to a panel of well-characterized staphylococcal reference strains, as well as 165 clinical isolates previously identified by conventional methods, the assay was both sensitive and specific for S. lugdunensis, correctly identifying the reference strain and all 47 S. lugdunensis isolates without inappropriate amplification of other staphylococci. Furthermore, rapid biochemical identification using the WEE-TAB system to detect ornithine decarboxylase activity was found to be unsuitable as an alternative to PCR identification, displaying just 31% sensitivity and 77% specificity when tested on a subset (90 isolates) of the clinical strains. We therefore propose that this simple, accurate PCR approach will allow for the routine and timely identification of S. lugdunensis in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00342-09

  View details for Web of Science ID 000271373000013

  View details for PubMedID 19741081

• First documentation of isoniazid reversion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE Richardson, E. T., Lin, S. G., Pinsky, B. A., Desmond, E., Banaei, N. 2009; 13 (11): 1347-1354

  Abstract

  Drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are increasing worldwide and pose a major threat to global health. However, it remains unsettled whether drug-resistant mutants are fixed in the bacterial population or if they would revert in the absence of drug pressure.To document the occurrence of isoniazid (INH) reversion in a patient with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and investigate its association with fitness cost.Genotypic and phenotypic assays were used to characterize the reversion of INH resistance in isolates from a patient with pulmonary TB. The pre-reversion katG mutation was reconstructed in a pan-susceptible laboratory strain (H37Rv DeltakatG::katG W300G) and tested for susceptibility to INH and oxidative stress.Genotyping and drug susceptibility testing showed that an isogenic strain of M. tuberculosis reverted from an INH-resistant to a susceptible phenotype in the absence of INH therapy. The genotypic basis of this reversion was mapped to the katG codon 300 which reverted from GGG (glycine, G) to a wild-type codon, TGG (tryptophan, W). The H37Rv DeltakatG::katG W300G mutant was resistant to INH, but also showed a deficiency in coping with oxidative stress.This study confirms that, in the absence of INH pressure, some INH-resistant mutants will revert to a drug-susceptible phenotype. This finding may have broader implications for INH-resistant strains and for the clinically useful lifespan of INH.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000271883400007

  View details for PubMedID 19861005

• Protein Phosphatase 1 Regulates Exit from the Spindle Checkpoint in Budding Yeast CURRENT BIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Nelson, C. R., Biggins, S. 2009; 19 (14): 1182-1187

  Abstract

  Accurate chromosome segregation depends on sister kinetochores coming under tension when they make bioriented attachments to microtubules from opposite poles. The spindle checkpoint halts the cell cycle in response to defects in generating proper attachments or tension on kinetochores, although the precise signal that triggers the checkpoint is unclear because tension and attachment are coupled. The target of the checkpoint is the Cdc20 protein, which initiates the anaphase-promoting complex (APC)-dependent degradation of the anaphase inhibitor Pds1/securin. Although the molecular details of spindle checkpoint activation are still being elucidated, phosphorylation by at least four kinases is a crucial requirement. However, less is known about the mechanisms that silence the checkpoint after kinetochores biorient. Here, we show that the catalytic subunit of the budding yeast protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) homolog, Glc7, regulates exit from the checkpoint. Glc7 overexpression prevents spindle checkpoint activation in response to both tension and attachment defects. Although glc7 mutant cells are able to efficiently release from a non-checkpoint-mediated metaphase arrest, they are uniquely sensitive to transient spindle checkpoint activation as a result of a failure in spindle checkpoint exit. We therefore propose that PP1 activity silences the checkpoint by reversing key phosphorylation events.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2009.06.043

  View details for Web of Science ID 000268530200024

  View details for PubMedID 19592248

• Hair Sheep Blood, Citrated or Defibrinated, Fulfills All Requirements of Blood Agar for Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory Tests PLOS ONE Yeh, E., Pinsky, B. A., Banaei, N., Baron, E. J. 2009; 4 (7)

  Abstract

  Blood agar is used for the identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of many bacterial pathogens. In the developing world, microbiologists use human blood agar because of the high cost and inhospitable conditions for raising wool sheep or horses to supply blood. Many pathogens either fail to grow entirely or exhibit morphologies and hemolytic patterns on human blood agar that confound colony recognition. Furthermore, human blood can be hazardous to handle due to HIV and hepatitis. This study investigated whether blood from hair sheep, a hardy, low-maintenance variety of sheep adapted for hot climates, was suitable for routine clinical microbiology studies.Hair sheep blood obtained by jugular venipuncture was anticoagulated by either manual defibrination or collection in human blood bank bags containing citrate-phosphate-dextrose. Trypticase soy 5% blood agar was made from both forms of hair sheep blood and commercial defibrinated wool sheep blood. Growth characteristics, colony morphologies, and hemolytic patterns of selected human pathogens, including several streptococcal species, were evaluated. Specialized identification tests, including CAMP test, reverse CAMP test, and satellite colony formation with Haemophilus influenzae and Abiotrophia defectiva were also performed. Mueller-Hinton blood agar plates prepared from the three blood types were compared in antibiotic susceptibility tests by disk diffusion and E-test.The results of all studies showed that blood agar prepared from citrated hair sheep blood is suitable for microbiological tests used in routine identification and susceptibility profiling of human pathogens. The validation of citrated hair sheep blood eliminates the labor-intensive and equipment-requiring process of manual defibrination. Use of hair sheep blood, in lieu of human blood currently used by many developing world laboratories and as an alternative to cost-prohibitive commercial sheep blood, offers the opportunity to dramatically improve the safety and accuracy of laboratory diagnosis of pathogenic bacteria in resource-poor countries.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0006141

  View details for Web of Science ID 000267806300010

  View details for PubMedID 19578541

• Bartholin's abscess caused by hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Baron, E. J., Janda, J. M., Banaei, N. 2009; 58 (5): 671-673

  Abstract

  Klebsiella pneumoniae serogroups displaying the hypermucoviscosity phenotype are associated with a distinct clinical syndrome characterized by liver abscesses, bacteraemia and metastatic lesions. We describe here what we believe to be the first reported case of hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae causing a superficial Bartholin's abscess in the absence of systemic involvement.

  View details for DOI 10.1099/jmm.0.006734-0

  View details for Web of Science ID 000266018900019

  View details for PubMedID 19369531

• Multiplex real-time PCR assay for rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex members to the species level JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Banaei, N. 2008; 46 (7): 2241-2246

  Abstract

  The species identification of members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is critical to the timely initiation of both appropriate antibiotic therapy and proper public health control measures. However, the current commercially available molecular assays identify mycobacteria only to the complex level and are unable to differentiate M. tuberculosis from the closely related M. bovis and M. bovis BCG. We describe here a rapid and robust two-step, multiplex, real-time PCR assay based on genomic deletions to definitively identify M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. bovis BCG, and other members of the complex. When tested against a panel of well-characterized mycobacterial reference strains, the assay was both sensitive and specific, correctly identifying all strains. We applied this assay to 60 clinical isolates previously identified as M. tuberculosis complex and found 57 M. tuberculosis isolates and 3 M. bovis BCG isolates from patients who had received intravesical BCG. Furthermore, analysis of 15 clinical specimens previously identified as M. bovis by spoligotyping revealed an isolate of M. tuberculosis that had been misidentified. We propose that this assay will allow the routine identification of M. tuberculosis complex members in the clinical laboratory.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00347-08

  View details for Web of Science ID 000258906800016

  View details for PubMedID 18508937

• Glc7/protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunits can oppose the Ipl1/aurora protein kinase by redistributing Glc7 MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Kotwaliwale, C. V., Tatsutani, S. Y., Breed, C. A., Biggins, S. 2006; 26 (7): 2648-2660

  Abstract

  Faithful chromosome segregation depends on the opposing activities of the budding yeast Glc7/PP1 protein phosphatase and Ipl1/Aurora protein kinase. We explored the relationship between Glc7 and Ipl1 and found that the phosphorylation of the Ipl1 substrate, Dam1, was altered by decreased Glc7 activity, whereas Ipl1 levels, localization, and kinase activity were not. These data strongly suggest that Glc7 ensures accurate chromosome segregation by dephosphorylating Ipl1 targets rather than regulating the Ipl1 kinase. To identify potential Glc7 and Ipl1 substrates, we isolated ipl1-321 dosage suppressors. Seven genes (SDS22, BUD14, GIP3, GIP4, SOL1, SOL2, and PEX31) encode newly identified ipl1 dosage suppressors, and all 10 suppressors encode proteins that physically interact with Glc7. The overexpression of the Gip3 and Gip4 suppressors altered Glc7 localization, indicating they are previously unidentified Glc7 regulatory subunits. In addition, the overexpression of Gip3 and Gip4 from the galactose promoter restored Dam1 phosphorylation in ipl1-321 mutant cells and caused wild-type cells to arrest in metaphase with unsegregated chromosomes, suggesting that Gip3 and Gip4 overexpression impairs Glc7's mitotic functions. We therefore propose that the overexpression of Glc7 regulatory subunits can titrate Glc7 away from relevant Ipl1 targets and thereby suppress ipl1-321 cells by restoring the balance of phosphatase/kinase activity.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/MCB.26.7.2648-2660.2006

  View details for Web of Science ID 000236312200017

  View details for PubMedID 16537909

• The Ipl1-Aurora protein kinase activates the spindle checkpoint by creating unattached kinetochores NATURE CELL BIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Kung, C., Shokat, K. M., Biggins, S. 2006; 8 (1): 78-U28

  Abstract

  The spindle checkpoint ensures accurate chromosome segregation by delaying cell-cycle progression until all sister kinetochores capture microtubules from opposite poles and come under tension (for reviews, see refs 1, 2). Although the checkpoint is activated by either the lack of kinetochore-microtubule attachments or defects in the tension exerted by microtubule-generated forces, it is not clear whether these signals are linked. We investigated the connection between tension and attachment by studying the conserved budding yeast Ipl1Aurora protein kinase that is required for checkpoint activation in the absence of tension but not attachment. Here, we show that spindle-checkpoint activation in kinetochore mutants that seem to have unattached kinetochores depends on Ipl1 activity. When Ipl1 function was impaired in these kinetochore mutants, the attachments were restored and the checkpoint was turned off. These data indicate that Ipl1 activates the checkpoint in response to tension defects by creating unattached kinetochores. Moreover, although the Dam1 kinetochore complex has been implicated as a key downstream target, we found the existence of unidentified Ipl1 sites on Dam1 or additional important substrates that regulate both microtuble detachment and the checkpoint.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/ncb1341

  View details for Web of Science ID 000234651500015

  View details for PubMedID 16327780

• The spindle checkpoint: tension versus attachment TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY Pinsky, B. A., Biggins, S. 2005; 15 (9): 486-493

  Abstract

  The spindle checkpoint ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation by preventing cell-cycle progression until all the chromosomes make proper bipolar attachments to the mitotic spindle and come under tension. Despite significant advances in our understanding of spindle checkpoint function, the primary signal that activates the spindle checkpoint remains unclear. Whereas some experiments indicate that the checkpoint recognizes the lack of microtubule attachment to the kinetochore, others indicate that the checkpoint senses the absence of tension generated on the kinetochore by microtubules. The interdependence between tension and microtubule attachment make it difficult to determine whether these signals are separable. In this article (which is part of the Chromosome Segregation and Aneuploidy series), we consider recent evidence that supports and opposes the hypothesis that defects in tension act as the primary checkpoint signal.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tcb.2005.07.005

  View details for Web of Science ID 000232333700006

  View details for PubMedID 16084093

• An Mtw1 complex promotes kinetochore biorientation that is monitored by the lpl1/Aurora protein kinase DEVELOPMENTAL CELL Pinsky, B. A., Tatsutani, S. Y., Collins, K. A., Biggins, S. 2003; 5 (5): 735-745

  Abstract

  Chromosome segregation depends on kinetochore biorientation so that sister kinetochores attach to microtubules from opposite poles and come under tension. The budding yeast Ipl1/Aurora protein kinase allows the absence of tension to activate the spindle checkpoint. We found that checkpoint activation in the mtw1-1 kinetochore mutant requires Ipl1p, suggesting that Mtw1p promotes tension. We isolated mtw1-1 dosage suppressors and identified Dsn1, a kinetochore protein that immunoprecipitates with the Mif2/CENP-C and Cse4/CENP-A proteins, as well as the Mtw1, Nnf1, and Nsl1 kinetochore proteins. mtw1 and dsn1 mutant strains exhibit similar phenotypes, suggesting that Mtw1p and Dsn1p act together. Although mtw1 mutant cells contained unattached chromosomes, attachment was restored by impairing Ipl1p function. These results suggest that mtw1 mutant kinetochores are competent to bind microtubules but Ipl1p generates unattached chromosomes. We therefore propose that an Mtw1 complex is required for kinetochore biorientation that is monitored by the Ipl1p kinase.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186544400011

  View details for PubMedID 14602074

• Top-SUMO wrestles centromeric cohesion DEVELOPMENTAL CELL Pinsky, B. A., Biggins, S. 2002; 3 (1): 4-6

  Abstract

  Sister chromatid cohesion at the centromere is distinct from cohesion at the chromosome arms. In the June issue of Molecular Cell, Bachant et al. have shown that centromeric cohesion in budding yeast is specifically regulated by SUMO-1 modification of Topoisomerase II.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000176769500003

  View details for PubMedID 12110161

• Nlk is a murine protein kinase related to Erk/MAP kinases and localized in the nucleus PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Brott, B. K., Pinsky, B. A., Erikson, R. L. 1998; 95 (3): 963-968

  Abstract

  Extracellular-signal regulated kinases/microtubule-associated protein kinases (Erk/MAPKs) and cyclin-directed kinases (Cdks) are key regulators of many aspects of cell growth and division, as well as apoptosis. We have cloned a kinase, Nlk, that is a murine homolog of the Drosophila nemo (nmo) gene. The Nlk amino acid sequence is 54. 5% similar and 41.7% identical to murine Erk-2, and 49.6% similar and 38.4% identical to human Cdc2. It possesses an extended amino-terminal domain that is very rich in glutamine, alanine, proline, and histidine. This region bears similarity to repetitive regions found in many transcription factors. Nlk is expressed as a 4. 0-kb transcript at high levels in adult mouse brain tissue, with low levels in other tissues examined, including lung, where two smaller transcripts of 1.0 and 1.5 kb are expressed as well. A 4.0-kb Nlk message is also present during embryogenesis, detectable at day E10. 5, reaching maximal steady state levels at day E12.5, and then decreasing. Nlk transiently expressed in COS7 cells is a 60-kDa kinase detectable by its ability to autophosphorylate. Mutation of the ATP-binding Lys-155 to methionine abolishes its ability to autophosphorylate, as does mutation of a putative activating threonine in kinase domain VIII, to valine, aspartic, or glutamic acid. Subcellular fractionation indicates that 60-70% of Nlk is localized to the nucleus, whereas 30-40% of Nlk is cytoplasmic. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirms that Nlk resides predominantly in the nucleus. Nlk and Nmo may be the first members of a family of kinases with homology to both Erk/MAPKs and Cdks.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000071878500031

  View details for PubMedID 9448268