Epstein-Barr Virus: Antibody response extremely inefficient
That Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) is widespread. In most cases, an infection with the pathogen has no consequences, but the virus can also cause serious illnesses. Researchers are now reporting that the antibody response unexpected compared to that of other viruses inefficient is.
Infection with the Epstein-Barr-Virus, EBV for short, usually occurs in young childhood, then usually runs its course without symptoms and has no consequences in most people. However, the virus can also cause serious illnesses. It is known that it is the cause of around 200,000 cancer cases worldwide every year, reports the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). However, the antibody response to this pathogen is weak and/or short-lived, as reported in the journal “PLOS Pathogenspublished study shows.
Infection persists for life
Over 90 percent of the population will become infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) during their lifetime. Acute infection with the virus can cause glandular fever, which usually affects the affected person’s general well-being for a few weeks, writes the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) in a current issue Message.
However, the body is not able to completely eradicate an infection with EBV, so this a life long consists. While for most of those infected, this chronic viral infection has no other side effects, some infected people tend to develop certain types of cancer.
Previous strategies to develop a vaccine once morest EBV aimed to stimulate so-called neutralizing antibodies, which bind to viruses in order to prevent the infection of cells.
However, this strategy has so far only been able to alleviate the symptoms of glandular fever, but no infection prevented will.
A virologist from the Institute for Translational HIV Research at the Medical Faculty of the UDE, together with colleagues from the US Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, has now taken a closer look at how the antibody response in the Course of EBV infection was developed in detail.
According to the information, through this work a better understanding be obtained regarding whether other immune functions, which are also stimulated by antibodies, might possibly be considered as the basis for a new vaccination strategy.
Weak antibody response
The researchers found that the antibody response was weak and/or short-lived compared to that of other known viruses. “In the first year of infection, only one out of four was tested EBV proteins developed a functional antibody response”explains junior professor Christina Karsten, first author of the study.
“In principle, this antibody response can lead to destruction of infected cells and may play an important role in controlling active virus replication in the acute phase of infection”according to the scientist.
“But even if it was developed in all test persons, it is obviously not sufficient in its naturally stimulated form to stop the infection to extinguish effectively.“
Significant differences to previously described results
The researchers also found evidence that more than a year following infection additional weak antibody functions mature once morest other EBV proteins.
The authors Concludereported that EBV can induce several previously undescribed non-neutralizing antibody responses. It is possible that this type of antibody response might be stimulated and exploited as part of a new vaccine strategy.
“The antibody response to EBV is markedly different from what has been previously described using the same technology for all other viruses studied”, said Jun.-Prof. Karsten. “Our data suggest that EBV with still unknown mechanisms prevents the formation of a protective antibody response.”
According to the experts, future studies should show whether the newly described antibody responses actually contribute to Schutz once morest an EBV infection and its consequences. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- University of Duisburg-Essen: Epstein-Barr virus: Unexpectedly inefficient antibody response, (accessed: October 10, 2022), university Duisburg-Essen
- Christina B. Karsten, Yannic C. Bartsch, Sally A. Shin, Matthew D. Slein, Howard M. Heller, Kumaran Kolandaivelu, Jaap M. Middeldorp, Galit Alter, Boris Julg: Evolution of functional antibodies following acute Epstein-Barr virus infection; in: PLOS Pathogens, (veröffentlicht: 06.09.2022), PLOS Pathogens
- German Center for Infection Research: Epstein-Barr virus: DZIF and Helmholtz Munich are developing a vaccine, (accessed: October 10, 2022), German Center for Infection Research
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
