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27 - EBV gene expression and regulation
- from Part II - Basic virology and viral gene effects on host cell functions: gammaherpesviruses
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- By Lawrence S. Young, Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, UK, John R. Arrand, Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, UK, Paul G. Murray, Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, UK
- Edited by Ann Arvin, Stanford University, California, Gabriella Campadelli-Fiume, Università degli Studi, Bologna, Italy, Edward Mocarski, Emory University, Atlanta, Patrick S. Moore, University of Pittsburgh, Bernard Roizman, University of Chicago, Richard Whitley, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Koichi Yamanishi, University of Osaka, Japan
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- Book:
- Human Herpesviruses
- Published online:
- 24 December 2009
- Print publication:
- 16 August 2007, pp 461-489
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Summary
Introduction
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an extremely efficient virus infecting the majority of the world's adult population (Rickinson and Kieff, 2001). Following primary infection, EBV persists in the infected host as a lifelong asymptomatic infection. Early in the course of primary infection, EBV infects B-lymphocytes, although it is not known where B-lymphocytes are infected and whether this involves epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract. To achieve long-term persistence in vivo, EBV colonizes the memory B-cell pool where it establishes latent infection, which is characterized by the expression of a limited subset of virus genes, known as the “latent” genes (Thorley-Lawson, 2001). There are several well-described forms of EBV latency, each of which is utilized by the virus at different stages of the virus life cycle and which are also reflected in the patterns of latency observed in the various EBV-associated malignancies (Rickinson and Kieff, 2001; Young and Murray, 2003). Furthermore, during its life cycle EBV must periodically enter the replicative cycle in order to generate infectious virus for transmission to other susceptible hosts, although it is also not clear whether this occurs in B-lymphocytes or in other cell types of the oropharynx (Rickinson and Kieff, 2001).
This chapter describes the EBV latency and replicative programs utilized by the virus as a means to understand how the virus infects and then establishes persistence in the host.
9 - Immunotherapy and vaccination against Epstein–Barr virus-associated cancer
- Edited by Peter L. Stern, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester, Peter C. L. Beverley, University College London, Miles Carroll, Oxford BioMedica (UK) Ltd
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- Book:
- Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy
- Published online:
- 06 January 2010
- Print publication:
- 17 August 2000, pp 174-194
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Summary
Introduction
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the Herpes family of viruses and infects the human population worldwide. In the 35 years since its discovery, EBV has attracted ever-increasing attention from medical, molecular biological, virological and epidemiological viewpoints. It is one of the most efficient cellular growthtransforming viruses known and yet, following natural primary infection during childhood, it generally coexists within its host completely asymptomatically and, in common with other herpesviruses, establishes a persistent infection which is maintained lifelong. In Western communities about 85–90% of all adults carry the virus, whereas in developing countries the infection level approaches 100% by the age of two. At any given time, about 20% of virus-positive individuals shed infectious virus in saliva which is believed to form the primary route of transmission. However, under certain circumstances its pathogenic potential is unleashed and EBV is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical conditions, many of which are malignant.
Clinical significance of EBV
In developed countries primary infection is often delayed for several years. Following first time infection during adolescence or young adulthood, clinical infectious mononucleosis (IM) develops in about half of the instances. In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are about 100000 new cases per year. However, despite the significant morbidity which is directly attributable to the aetiological role of EBV in the causation of IM, it is more the virus' associations with various human cancers which are the prime considerations behind the need for vaccination and/or therapy.