Parvovirus B19 Achievements and Challenges

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 is a widespread human pathogenic virus, member of the Erythrovirus genus in the Parvoviridae family. Infection can be associated with an ample range of pathologies and clinical manifestations, whose characteristics and outcomes depend on the interplay between the pathogenetic potential of the virus, its adaptation to different cellular environments, and the physiological and immune status of the infected individuals. The scope of this review is the advances in knowledge on the biological characteristics of the virus and of virus-host relationships; in particular, the interactions of the virus with different cellular environments in terms of tropism and ability to achieve a productive replicative cycle, or, on the contrary, to establish persistence; the consequences of infection in terms of interference with the cell physiology; the process of recognition of the virus by the innate or adaptive immune system, hence the role of the immune system in controlling the infection or in the development of clinical manifestations. Linked to these issues is the continuous effort to develop better diagnostic algorithms and methods and the need for development of prophylactic and therapeutic options for B19V infections.

Detection of human parvovirus B19 DNA in 22% of 1815 cutaneous biopsies of a wide variety of dermatological conditions suggests viral persistence after primary infection and casts doubts on its pathogenic significance

“…The initial enthusiasm in the cardiology literature has somewhat subsided, in view of the evidence for lifelong persistence of B19V DNA in the myocardium . The mechanism of viral persistence is unknown, but it is hypothesized (but by no means proven) that the virus might establish a latent‐like type of infection, with a harmless low DNA level resulting from the inability to replicate in nonpermissive cells; however, the possibility of reactivation cannot be ruled out …”

Relevance of cardiac parvovirus B19 in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy: review of the literature

“…Parvovirus B19 is a single‐stranded DNA virus and member of the Parvoviridae family, genus Erythrovirus . The single‐stranded DNA genome consists of 5′ and 3′ inverted terminal repeats (ITR), a p6 promoter sequence and open reading frames (ORF) encoding the main non‐structural protein (NS1) and viral capsid proteins (VP1/2) ( Figure ) . Three additional small proteins of uncertain function are also encoded.…”

The clinical use of parvovirus B19 assays: recent advances

“…B19V shares structural features with other viruses in the family (for more extended reviews, see refs [2,3]). The genome is a linear ssDNA molecule of 5.6 kb in length, strands of either polarity are separately encapsidated at the same frequency and are functionally equivalent.…”