COLOCALIZATION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS AND HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN BRAIN AUTOPSY TISSUE FROM AIDS PATIENTS

We have examined 26 human AIDS brains obtained at post mortem for infe ction by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and for dual infection of cells by both viruses, The technique s used were enzyme-linked immunocytochemistry for HCMV and in situ hyb ridisation using a cDNA probe for HIV. Using these techniques, HCMV in fection was detected in 14 brains, HIV infection in 14 brains, and coi nfection with HIV and HCMV in 7 brains, Four caes of dual HIV/HCMV inf ection were found where no colocalisation could be detected, In random ly chosen dually infected areas 19.2% of infected cells were coinfecte d with both viruses, Although cells identified morphologically as macr ophages were the most common infected cell type, astrocytes and neuron s were both singly and doubly infected with HIV and HCMV, Complete cli nical data were available for 4 of the 7 cases with coinfection and ea ch had AIDS dementia complex.