Geographic Population Structure in Epstein-Barr Virus Revealed by Comparative Genomics.

ABSTRACT: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latently infects the majority of the human population and is implicated as a causal or contributory factor in numerous diseases. We sequenced 27 complete EBV genomes from a cohort of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls from Italy, although no variants showed a statistically significant association with MS. Taking advantage of the availability of ∼130 EBV genomes with known geographical origins, we reveal a striking geographic distribution of EBV sub-populations with distinct allele frequency distributions. We discuss mechanisms that potentially explain these observations, and their implications for understanding the association of EBV with human disease.

SUBMITTER: Chiara M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5203774 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature