The Development of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccines for Epstein-Barr Virus and its Associated Malignancies
Alexander C. Dowell and Graham S. Taylor
from: DNA Tumour Viruses: Virology, Pathogenesis and Vaccines (Edited by: Sally Roberts). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2018) Pages: 163-178.
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpesvirus family, infects 90-95% of the world's population. Primary infection is usually silent but in some cases is associated with acute pathology that usually self-resolves. Following infection, EBV is carried for life as latent infection in memory B-cells with viral reactivation in the oropharynx generating infectious progeny for spread to new hosts. Although life-long infection with EBV is usually asymptomatic, the virus is associated with a range of lymphoid and epithelial cancers that total over 200,000 cases each year worldwide. Evidence that EBV infection is linked to autoimmune disorders, particularly multiple sclerosis, is also accumulating. Targeting the virus, by prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination, represents a rationale therapeutic strategy. This chapter focuses on the development of such vaccines, drawing parallels with other herpesviruses and other oncogenic viruses. The current status of EBV vaccine candidates and the signals of efficacy generated by laboratory studies and clinical trials are described read more ...
