The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpes virus type 4, lymphotropic, providing for cells whose latent infection. It has been shown that this virus is mainly responsible for Infect mononucleosis (IM), a disease of adolescence and childhood.

It can also produce certain forms of cancer, including undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (CNI), Endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma (LBE) or B cell lymphomas in patients with acquired or congenital immunodeficiencies and there is great controversy over the role of this virus as a cause of chronic illness, in particular in regard to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Structure

Like every family is a large virus, encapsulated with a double-stranded DNA. It is about 150 nm.Its capsid is icosahedral with 162 capsomers and all the virus is enveloped by a cover with glycoproteins.

The space between the deck and the capsid, tegument, is full of proteins and viral enzymes. It is sensitive to acids, solvents, detergents, and drying. The genome consists of double-stranded linear DNA of different sizes. It has two sections, one long (UL) and one short (UC), each flanked by two groups of direct repeats of DNA (LR) as, unlike other types of herpes virus replicates with groups of indirect shows a single isomeric configuration.

Replication

The molecular processes of replication of herpes virus are regulated by viral and cellular factors. Schematically say that the viral protein synthesis takes place in three phases: 1) immediate early protein synthesis necessary for the primary synthesis of nucleic acids and other viral proteins, 2) synthesis of specific proteins and viral genome and 3 ) synthesis of late structural proteins and 4) the viral and cellular factors determine whether the virus causes a lytic infection, persistent or latent.

photo source: elements4health.com

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