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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gavin Spickett
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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that persists in the body for life after primary infection. The primary site of EBV persistence is the memory B lymphocyte, but whether the virus initially infects naive or memory B cells is still disputed. We have analyzed EBV infection in nine cases of X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (hyper-IgM) syndrome who, due to a mutation in CD40 ligand gene, do not have a classical, class-switched memory B-cell population (IgD(-) CD27(+)). We found evidence of EBV infection in 67% of cases, which is similar to the infection rate found in the general United Kingdom population (60 to 70% for the relevant age range). We detected EBV DNA in peripheral blood B cells and showed in one case that the infection was restricted to the small population of nonclassical, germinal center-independent memory B cells (IgD(+) CD27(+)). Detection of EBV small RNAs, latent membrane protein 2, and EBV nuclear antigen 3C expression in peripheral blood suggests full latent viral gene expression in this population. Analysis of EBV DNA in serial samples showed variability over time, suggesting cycles of infection and loss. Our results demonstrate that short-term EBV persistence can occur in the absence of a germinal center reaction and a classical memory B-cell population.
Author(s): Conacher M, Callard R, McAulay K, Chapel H, Webster D, Kumararatne D, Chandra A, Spickett G, Hopwood PA, Crawford DH
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Virology
Year: 2005
Volume: 79
Issue: 17
Pages: 11128-11134
ISSN (print): 0022-538X
ISSN (electronic): 1070-6321
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.79.17.11128-11134.2005
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.79.17.11128-11134.2005
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