title: Role for HLA in susceptibility to infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Factors involved in determining whether infectious mononucleosis occurs after primary EBV infection may include age, dose of virus received, and various genetic markers. A study by McAulay and colleagues reported in this issue of the JCI shows that the presence of certain HLA class I alleles correlates with the incidence and severity of infectious mononucleosis. These same HLA alleles are also risk factors for EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), supporting recent epidemiology that indicates that a history of infectious mononucleosis predisposes to HL. Recent studies suggest that an EBV vaccine might help to prevent infectious mononucleosis, and further development of this should now be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. p.farrell@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines