25 July 2001
Borna disease virus and mood disorders
Several infection markers and evidence for the virus in human patients with affective disorders and schizophrenia have raised
worldwide interest in the zoonotic aspects of the condition. A study conducted by Bode et al. at the Robert-Koch Institut,
Berlin, Germany reveals that failing detection of the infection is due to virus-specific circulating immune complexes (CICs),
and discloses their interplay with free antibodies and plasma antigens (p40/p24). Persistence of high amounts of CICs and
plasma antigens was found to correlate with the severity of depression. Viral RNA could be detected in plasma samples that
had strong antigenemia.
Liv Bode may be contacted by e-mail
Bode L. et al., Molecular Psychiatry 6, 481-491
