title: Biology of Epstein-Barr virus during infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Infectious mononucleosis is the clinical manifestation of primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We monitored primary infection during convalescence and during the establishment of persistent infection. The profiles of EBV strains in the oral cavity and in peripheral blood were determined by use of a heteroduplex tracking assay specific for the EBV gene encoding latent membrane protein 1. Multiple EBV strains were detected in most patients and persisted in and were possibly transmitted among 3 distinct compartments of infection, including the oral cavity, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the cell-free fraction of the blood plasma. We also tracked transmission of multiple strains from an asymptomatic carrier to a patient diagnosed with primary EBV infection. These data reveal that primary EBV infection is complex, with transmission of multiple strains and clear differences in relative abundance of strains in distinct compartments.
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sitki-Green
authors.forename: Rachel Hood
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Covington
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raab-Traub
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D009055:Mouth / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins