Millenium Health Tips

Immunocompetent individuals remain EBV in B lymphocytes as a latent chronic infection which helps them survive and spread to new host cells. This long coexistence is possible because the virus develops different mechanisms to evade the immune system. During the acute phase the virus expresses gene products of about 90 while in the latent phase antigens are expressed only EBNA and LPM2 (EBNA 1,2,3 A, 3B, 3C and the LPM associated with cell transformation 2b Ay 1.2 ).

photo source: www.labspaces.net

EBNA1 is required for that automantenga DNA in lymphocytes that are activated and allows the virus to remain LPM2 limiting latent gene expression in the membrane. This minimal expression of the repertoire of viral proteins allows the virus to minimize the number of targets for the immune system. (more…)

Antigenic Structure

When infection occurs cell begins production of viral proteins. These proteins include early antigen (EA), the capsid (VCA) and membrane glycoproteins (MA).

photo source: http://digitalunion.osu.edu/

Viral Pathogenesis and Persistence

The virus is transmitted by infected saliva and reaches the oropharynx epithelial cells where it replicates in production of virions and cell lysis. B cells are infected as they pass through the oropharynx or the epithelium of the postnasal space. The virus uses the cell to contact one of its envelope protein, gp350, which binds to the cellular receptor CD21 (the same that has for the C3d of complement). (more…)