Browsing by Author "Peiris, J.S.M."

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Genogroup I and II picobirnaviruses in respiratory tracts of pigs
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011) Smits, S.L.; Poon, L.L.M.; van Leeuwen, M.; Lau, P.N.; Perera, H.K.K.; Peiris, J.S.M.; Simon, J.H.; Osterhaus, A.D.M.E.
ABSTRACT: Sequence-independent amplification and specific reverse transcription PCRs identified genogroup I and II picobirnaviruses in respiratory tracts of pigs. These data expand knowledge of picobirnavirus diversity and tropism. Genetic relationships between porcine respiratory and human enteric picobirnaviruses suggest cross-species transmission of picobirnaviruses between pigs and humans.
Influenza virus infections among a sample of hospital attendees in Ragama, Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2010) Perera, K.V.H.K.K.; Chan, K.H.; Ma, E.; Peiris, J.S.M.
OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to define the types of influenza viruses circulating among humans and to understand the seasonality of influenza virus activity. Such information is essential for deciding on influenza vaccination strategy and on the appropriate time for delivering influenza vaccination, if such a vaccination policy was decided to be a priority. METHOD: During the period July 2003 - August 2004, 300 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were obtained from a systematic sample of patients reported to Out-patient Department, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama with ≤4 days history of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). The clinical signs and symptoms of the patients were prospectively recorded. Isolation of the influenza virus was carried out by inoculating in Madin Darby Canine Kidney cell line (MDCK). The isolates were identified by immunofluorescence assay and characterised by haemagglutination inhibition test. RT-PCR was carried out on all NPA samples. Genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin gene of representative viruses were carried out. RESULTS: Twenty three influenza A and nine influenza B viruses were isolated by cell culture methods. Influenza A H3N2 Panama/2000/99-like viruses were isolated in 8% of patients with ARTI and influenza B/Sichuan/ 379/99-like viruses were isolated in 3%. Twenty eight influenza A virus infections were identified by the RT-PCR method. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out with data from other H3-subtype viruses isolated worldwide. The Sri Lanka viruses are antigenically and genetically similar to those in the northern and southern hemispheres. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza viruses circulate at different times of the year and is the aetiological agent causing 11% of all ARTI. Influenza activity corresponded to a peak in rainfall; however the correlation of influenza virus activity with rainfall is not invariable. The Sri Lankan isolates of 2003-4 were genetically related to the influenza A viruses circulating around the globe
The influenza viruses
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2015) Perera, H.K.K.; Peiris, J.S.M.
No Abstract Available
Viral characteristics and genomics of early onset, single organ specific presentations in dengue
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2013) Premaratna, R.; Perera, H.K.K.; Chan, K.H.; Yeung, M.F.; Mettananda, C.; Peiris, J.S.M.; de Silva, H.J.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Early onset neurological, hepatic and cardiac complications of dengue are increasingly recognized. However, doubts exist as to whether such complications of dengue are consequences of dengue shock syndrome rather than direct organ involvement. We studied virus characteristics and their genomics in patients who presented with early onset single organ involvement due to dengue, without features of DSS. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at admission of seven patients, who presented to the Professorial Medical Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital Ragama during 2011-2012, confirmed as having acute dengue by PCR. Samples were analysed with single-tube, nested RT-PCR using type-specific primers. Viral RNA was extracted and sequencing was performed. The dengue virus sequences were aligned with other sequences that are available in the GenBank and maximum-likelihood (ML) tree was made. RESULTS: Early onset organ specific manifestations included; self-limiting fits and clouding of consciousness on the 2nd day, rise in AST (1337iu/L) and ALT (749iu/L) on the 4th day and T wave inversions in the ECG on the 3rd day. Seven Dengue 1 viruses were isolated, which were in close homology in all 7 patients, based on the maximum likelihood tree with 1000 boot-straps. CONCLUSIONS: All the strains detected were clustered within the Genotype I clade of dengue-1 and in close homology with the dengue-1 viruses detected in the country in the recent past. The significance of viral characteristics and genomics related to organ specific manifestations need further study.