ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common herpes virus and a significant cause of human disease. During primary infection, colonization of the lymphoid system occurs through virusdriven expansion of infected B cells, which selectively express six latent EBV proteins (EBNAs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, –LP). Viral shedding into the oropharynx is another feature of primary EBV infection and arises from expression of the ‘‘lytic switch’’ protein BZLF1, which launches the lytic cycle cascade including gp85, BMLF1, BMRF1, BHRF1, and gp350 proteins (1).
