Millenium Health Tips

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Specific serological response

EBV has a complex antigen. Are three classes of antigenic systems: the latent phase antigens, antigens early replicative and late antigens. Not all are important for diagnosis. Among the former, there are the EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA1 and 2). Despite being the first to receive the antibody response to EBNA-1, which occurs in all infected individuals, is a late marker of infection. Among the early antigens (EA) and depending on your location there are two types: diffuse (EA-D in the nucleus and cytoplasm) and restricted (EA-R, only in cytoplasm).

The response of anti-EA is not universal and indicates that the cell has entered a lytic cycle and producer. Finally, among the late ones, the antigen of the virus capsid (VCA) is expressed equally abundantly in the lytic and productive infection, and induces a response of the IgM isotype in the primary disease that lasts 2-3 months, and IgG isotype , which remains detectable for life.  Read the rest of this entry »