Molecular Basis of Epstein-Barr Virus Latency Establishment and Lytic Reactivation

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2021 Dec 28

PMID 34960613

Citations 53

Authors

Takayuki Murata

Atsuko Sugimoto

Tomoki Inagaki

Yusuke Yanagi

Takahiro Watanabe

Yoshitaka Sato

Hiroshi Kimura

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a causative agent of infectious mononucleosis and several types of cancer. Like other herpesviruses, it establishes an asymptomatic, life-long latent infection, with occasional reactivation and shedding of progeny viruses. During latency, EBV expresses a small number of viral genes, and exists as an episome in the host-cell nucleus. Expression patterns of latency genes are dependent on the cell type, time after infection, and milieu of the cell (e.g., germinal center or peripheral blood). Upon lytic induction, expression of the viral immediate-early genes, BZLF1 and BRLF1, are induced, followed by early gene expression, viral DNA replication, late gene expression, and maturation and egress of progeny virions. Furthermore, EBV reactivation involves more than just progeny production. The EBV life cycle is regulated by signal transduction, transcription factors, promoter sequences, epigenetics, and the 3D structure of the genome. In this article, the molecular basis of EBV latency establishment and reactivation is summarized.

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