JC virus infection and Alzheimer's disease: Reappraisal of an in situ hybridization approach

To assess the validity of the recently reported data on frequent occurrence of latent JC virus (JCV) infections in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, we used in situ hybridization with biotinylated whole genomic JCV probes and the streptavidin-biotinylated alkaline phosphatase method to examine brain sections of such patients. We did not find any signs of JCV either in the brains of the patients with Alzheimer's disease or in those of nondemented, elderly control patients. Non-specific staining of corpora amylacea-like bodies, however, was invariably detected with in situ hybridization using JCV probes.