An animal model for acute and persistent Epstein-Barr virus infection

Science. 1997 Jun 27;276(5321):2030-3. doi: 10.1126/science.276.5321.2030.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human lymphocryptovirus that causes infectious mononucleosis, persists asymptomatically for life in nearly all adults, and is associated with the development of B cell lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas. A highly similar rhesus lymphocryptovirus naturally endemic in rhesus monkeys was used to orally infect naïve animals from a pathogen-free colony. This animal model reproduced key aspects of human EBV infection, including oral transmission, atypical lymphocytosis, lymphadenopathy, activation of CD23(+) peripheral blood B cells, sustained serologic responses to lytic and latent EBV antigens, latent infection in the peripheral blood, and virus persistence in oropharyngeal secretions. This system may be useful for studying the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of EBV infection and associated oncogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Herpesviridae Infections* / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections* / pathology
  • Herpesviridae Infections* / virology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lymphocryptovirus* / immunology
  • Lymphocryptovirus* / isolation & purification
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Macaca mulatta*
  • Mouth / virology
  • Oropharynx / virology
  • Receptors, IgE / blood
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Tumor Virus Infections* / immunology
  • Tumor Virus Infections* / pathology
  • Tumor Virus Infections* / virology
  • Virus Latency
  • Virus Shedding

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • Receptors, IgE