Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human gamma herpes virus that remains one of the most successful viral parasites known to man. It is the etiological agent of infectious mononucleosis and is the major biological cofactor contributing to a number of human cancers including B-cell neoplasms (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and immunoblastic lymphomas), certain forms of T-cell lymphoma, and some epithelial tumors (e.g. nasopharyngeal carcinomas and gastric carcinomas). The virus has the unique ability to persist in the infected, apparently healthy host for life. Understanding the molecular interaction between EBV and its human host, the ability of the virus to modulate the host immune system, its ability to hide in B-memory cells and factors that trigger viral reactivation are fundamental to understanding the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of the virus. This is critical for the development of strategies for the prevention and control of infection and disease. In this book, wo