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The Epigenetic Life Cycle of Epstein–Barr Virus

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Book cover Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 390))

Abstract

Ever since the discovery of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) more than 50 years ago, this virus has been studied for its capacity to readily establish a latent infection, which is the prominent hallmark of this member of the herpesvirus family. EBV has become an important model for many aspects of herpesviral latency, but the molecular steps and mechanisms that lead to and promote viral latency have only emerged recently. It now appears that the virus exploits diverse facets of epigenetic gene regulation in the cellular host to establish a latent infection. Most viral genes are transcriptionally repressed, and viral chromatin is densely compacted during EBV’s latent phase, but latent infection is not a dead end. In order to escape from this phase, epigenetic silencing must be reverted efficiently and quickly. It appears that EBV has perfected a clever strategy to overcome transcriptional repression of its many lytic genes to initiate virus de novo synthesis within a few hours after induction of its lytic cycle. This review tries to summarize the known molecular mechanisms, the current models, concepts, and ideas underlying this viral strategy. This review also attempts to identify and address gaps in our current understanding of EBV’s epigenetic mechanisms within the infected cellular host.

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Acknowledgments

This review is based on the works of many colleagues. I sincerely apologize to all scientists whose important contributions could not be cited here due to space limitations. I would like to thank Bill Sugden for reading the manuscript and his valuable suggestions. This review and work in my laboratory is supported by Institutional Intramural Grants, grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFBTRR36/TPA04, SFB1064/TPA13, SFB1054/TPB05, grants from German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), and National Institutes of Health Grant CA70723.

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  1. Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, Marchioninistr. 25, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Wolfgang Hammerschmidt

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Correspondence to Wolfgang Hammerschmidt .

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  1. Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Christian Münz

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Hammerschmidt, W. (2015). The Epigenetic Life Cycle of Epstein–Barr Virus. In: Münz, C. (eds) Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 390. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22822-8_6

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