Epstein-Barr Virus Type 2 Infects T Cells in Healthy Kenyan Children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The 2 strains of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), EBV type 1 (EBV-1) and EBV-2, differ in latency genes, suggesting that they use distinct mechanisms to establish latency. We previously reported that EBV-2 infects T cells in vitro. In this study, we tested the possibility that EBV-2 infects T cells in vivo.

Methods

Purified T-cell fractions isolated from children positive for EBV-1 or EBV-2 and their mothers were examined for the presence of EBV and for EBV type.

Results

We detected EBV-2 in all T-cell samples obtained from EBV-2-infected children at 12 months of age, with some children retaining EBV-2-positive T cells through 24 months of age, suggesting that EBV-2 persists in T cells. We were unable to detect EBV-2 in T-cell samples from mothers but could detect

SUBMITTER: Coleman CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5853903 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature