In primary infection, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) replicates in oro-pharyngeal epithelial cells and establishes Latency III, II, and I infections in B-lymphocytes. EBV latent infection of B-lymphocytes is necessary for virus persistence, subsequent replication in epithelial cells, and release of infectious virus into saliva. EBV Latency III and II infections of B-lymphocytes, Latency II infection of oral epithelial cells, and Latency II infection of NK- or T-cell can result in malignancies, marked by uniform EBV genome presence and gene expression. Because of the marked CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell response to EBV nuclear proteins in Latency III infected B-lymphocytes, EBV associated lymphoid malignancies are most common in immune compromised people, whereas EBV associated Latency II infected anaplastic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma is not more common in immune compromised people and is most common in otherwise normal Southestern Chinese people.

from Epstein-Barr Virus: Latency and Transformation

Further reading:

• Epstein-Barr Virus
• RNA Interference and Viruses
• Virology publications

Labels: B-lymphocytes, EBV Latency I, EBV Latency II, EBV Latency III, Latency, Latent EBV Infections