immunology-summit-2018-posters-abstracts

Virology Research Journal

Volume 2

Page 48

allied

academies

IMMUNOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY

BACTERIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Global Summit on

Global Congress on

J u n e 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 | A m s t e r d a m , N e t h e r l a n d s

Joint Event on

DIRECT EVIDENCE OF VIRAL INFECTION AND MITOCHONDRIAL

ALTERATIONS IN THE BRAIN OF FETUSES AT HIGH RISK FOR

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Segundo Mesa Castillo

Psychiatric Hospital of Havana, Cuba

here is increasing evidences that favor the prenatal beginning of schizophrenia. These evidences point toward intra-uterine

environmental factors that act specifically during the second pregnancy trimester producing a direct damage of the brain of

the fetus. The current available technology doesn’t allow observing what is happening at cellular level since the human brain is not

exposed to a direct analysis in that stage of the life in subjects at high risk of developing schizophrenia.

Methods:

In 1977 we began a direct electron microscopic research of the brain of fetuses at high risk from schizophrenic mothers

in order to finding differences at cellular level in relation to controls.

Results:

In these studies we have observed within the nuclei of neurons the presence of complete and incomplete viral particles

that reacted in positive form with antibodies to herpes simplex hominis type I [HSV1] virus and mitochondria alterations.

Conclusion:

The importance of these findings can have practical applications in the prevention of the illness keeping in mind its

direct relation to the aetiology and physiopathology of schizophrenia. A study of amniotic fluid cells in women at risk of having a

schizophrenic offspring is considered. Of being observed the same alterations that those observed previously in the cells of the

brain of the studied foetuses, it would intend to these women in risk of having a schizophrenia descendant, previous information

of the results, the voluntary medical interruption of the pregnancy or an early anti HSV1 viral treatment as preventive measure of

the later development of the illness.

Virol Res J 2018, Volume 2