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Review
. 2017 Oct:26:74-80.
doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.017. Epub 2017 Aug 4.

Epstein-Barr virus: a master epigenetic manipulator

Affiliations
Review

Epstein-Barr virus: a master epigenetic manipulator

Rona S Scott. Curr Opin Virol. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Like all herpesviruses, the ability of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to establish life-long persistent infections is related to a biphasic viral lifecycle that involves latency and reactivation/lytic replication. Memory B cells serve as the EBV latency compartment where silencing of viral gene expression allows maintenance of the viral genome, avoidance of immune surveillance, and life-long carriage. Upon viral reactivation, viral gene expression is induced for replication, progeny virion production, and viral spread. EBV uses the host epigenetic machinery to regulate its distinct viral gene expression states. However, epigenetic manipulation by EBV affects the host epigenome by reprogramming cells in ways that leave long-lasting, oncogenic phenotypes. Such virally-induced epigenetic alterations are evident in EBV-associated cancers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest:

There are no conflicts of interests.

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