The role of EBV in post-transplant malignancies: a review

Abstract

EBV is an enveloped herpesvirus with a 172 kb double stranded DNA genome.² A defining feature of herpesviruses is their ability to maintain a latent infection with the virus genome retained in host cells without production of infectious virions. EBV targets B lymphocytes through the CD21 receptor and establishes a latent infection both in vivo and in vitro.