This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ambinder, R. F. Articles by Mann, R. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ambinder, R. F. Articles by Mann, R. B.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 145, 239-252, Copyright © 1994 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REVIEWS

Detection and characterization of Epstein-Barr virus in clinical specimens

RF Ambinder and RB Mann
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a wide spectrum of benign and malignant diseases. Recent additions to the list include oral hairy leukoplakia; a subset of Hodgkin's lymphomas, particularly those with mixed cellularity histology or those occurring in underdeveloped countries; a subset of diffuse large cell/immunoblastic lymphoma in the immunocompromised, particularly primary central nervous system lymphoma; a subset of peripheral T cell lymphomas; and a subset of gastric carcinomas, particularly undifferentiated carcinomas. There are several distinctive aspects of the biology of the virus that are important in investigations of virus in clinical specimens. The presence of repeated elements in the genome facilitates detection of viral nucleic acids by a variety of hybridization techniques as well as the characterization of the clonality of virus-infected tissues. Latent viral infection is associated with several different patterns of viral gene expression in infected cells. Latent gene products are important because of their growth-regulating and -transforming properties as well as the potent cytotoxic T cell response they elicit. The abundant expression of the EBER RNA transcripts makes possible the sensitive detection of latent infection in EBV-associated tumors. Lytic infection can be inhibited by antiviral nucleoside analogues. Two lytic gene products are of special interest because of their homology to the cellular proteins BCL-2 and interleukin-10. Two viral biotypes or strains with different properties in terms of lymphocyte immortalization and transformation have recently been characterized. Current evidence suggests a differential biotype association with particular malignancies. Characterization of the association of EBV with various disease processes promises to be important for diagnosis and treatment as well as for a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these diabetes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Ikeda, A. Ikeda, and R. Longnecker PY Motifs of Epstein-Barr Virus LMP2A Regulate Protein Stability and Phosphorylation of LMP2A-Associated Proteins J. Virol., June 15, 2001; 75(12): 5711 - 5718. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. M. Braziel, D. A. Arber, M. L. Slovak, M. L. Gulley, C. Spier, C. Kjeldsberg, J. Unger, T. P. Miller, R. Tubbs, C. Leith, et al. The Burkitt-like lymphomas: a Southwest Oncology Group study delineating phenotypic, genotypic, and clinical features Blood, June 15, 2001; 97(12): 3713 - 3720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kira, S. P. Grill, G. E. Dutschman, J.-S. Lin, F. Qu, Y. Choi, C. K. Chu, and Y.-C. Cheng Anti-Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Activity of beta -L-5-Iododioxolane Uracil Is Dependent on EBV Thymidine Kinase Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., December 1, 2000; 44(12): 3278 - 3284. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. E. Wilentz, M. Goggins, M. Redston, V. A. Marcus, N. V. Adsay, T. A. Sohn, S. S. Kadkol, C. J. Yeo, M. Choti, M. Zahurak, et al. Genetic, Immunohistochemical, and Clinical Features of Medullary Carcinoma of the Pancreas : A Newly Described and Characterized Entity Am. J. Pathol., May 1, 2000; 156(5): 1641 - 1651. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Rivailler, C. Quink, and F. Wang Strong Selective Pressure for Evolution of an Epstein-Barr Virus LMP2B Homologue in the Rhesus Lymphocryptovirus J. Virol., October 1, 1999; 73(10): 8867 - 8872. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Quintanilla-Martinez, C. Lome-Maldonado, G. Ott, A. Gschwendtner, E. Gredler, E. Reyes, A. Angeles-Angeles, and F. Fend Primary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Intestine: High Prevalence of Epstein-Barr Virus in Mexican Lymphomas as Compared With European Cases Blood, January 15, 1997; 89(2): 644 - 651. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]