Epstein-Barr Virus Flashcards
What percentage of human cancers are estimated to be associated with viruses?
15-20%
How can viruses contribute to cell transformation?
Carrying transforming genes within their own genome.
Causing host DNA damage during their life cycle and affecting host transforming genes.
What are the three subfamilies of human herpes viruses?
- Alphaperpesviruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV)
- Betaherpesviruses (CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7)
- Gammaherpesviruses (EBV, HHV)
When are reactivations of human herpes viruses most likely to occur?
When carrier is immunosuppressed.
Name 3 diseases associated with EBV primary infection.
- Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
- Chronic active EBV infection
- X-linked lymphoproliferative disease
What are the symptoms of glandular fever?
Fever, lymphadenopathy and pharyngitis.
What are the symptoms of chronic active EBV infection?
Sever illness of more than 6 months, histologic evidence of organ disease, and demonstration of EBV antigens or EBV DNA in tissue (mimics fatigue syndrome).
What are the symptoms of X-linked lymphoproliferative disease?
Inherited disease of males, absence of functional SAP gene impairs the normal interaction of T and B cells resulting in unregulated growth of EBV-infected B cells.
Give 3 EBV associated diseases related to reduced immunity.
- PTLD (post transplant lymphoproliferative disease) - a tumour often found in organ transplant patients.
- Oral hairy cell leukaemia - nonmalignant hyperplastic lesion of epithelial cells, usually in AIDS patients, but also in other immunosupressed patients.
- Chronic interstitial pneumonitis - in AIDS patients.
Name 6 cancers which are associated with EBV infection.
- Nasopharyngeal carincoma
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Lymphoproliferative disease and lymphoma
- Gastric carcinoma
- Nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma
Describe the DNA of EBV.
Linear dsDNA molecule of about 175kbp
Describe the structure of EBV.
Icosahedral capsid.
100-110nm in diameter.
Contains 162 capsomeres with a hole running down the long axis.
An amorphous, sometimes asymmetric material that surrounds the caspid designated as the tegument.
An enevlope containing viral glycoprotein spikes on its surface.
What is the main method of transmission for EBV?
Salivary contact
e.g. kissing, sharing food, babies toys, coughing.
At what age are the two peaks of infection seen in developed countries?
Ages 1-6 and 14-20
In developing countries, how many children are seropositive for EBV by the age of two?
90%
What percentage of teenagers or young adults with primary EBV infection get glandular fever?
30%
Which cells does EBV infect?
B-lymphocytes
What is the mechanism by which EBV infects B-lymphocytes?
By binding viral gp350 to CD21 and viral gp42 to MHCII.
In which area of the body can low grade virus replication and shedding be demonstrated in all seropositive individuals?
The epithelium of the pharynx.
What are the replication origins of the lytic and latent life cycles?
oriLyt and oriP
What happens immediately after viral binding?
Endocytosis and transport to the nucleus.
Genome circularises and is maintained as an extrachromosomal plasmid.
Which area of the body does EBV tend to be active in?
Nasopharyngeal lymphoid system (including tonsils)
How many B cells are persistently infected in asymptomatic carriers?
0.5-50 B cells/million
What is the major envelope protein of EBV?
Gp350
In the acute stage which cells control proliferative EBV infected cells?
NK cells
CD4
CD8
How many EBV genes are encoded during its latent phase?
About 11
Which nuclear antigens are encoded during the latent phase?
EBNAs 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, and LP