Association of EBV strains, defined by multiple loci analyses, in non-Hodgkin lymphomas and reactive tissues from HIV positive and HIV negative patients

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated with lymphoid neoplasms demonstrates pr eferential association with certain viral strains. Previous subtyping studi es have however been confined to analysis of sequence variability within a single locus in EBV. Variations have now been reported for several latently expressed EBV genes, including, EBNAs-1, 2 and LMP-1. Variant EBNA-1 strai ns have been identified in Burkitt's lymphomas and clustering of subtypes f or LMP and EBNA-2 have been associated with either malignancy and/or clinic al disease. To investigate the linkage between the variability in these thr ee loci in EBV associated with lymphoid malignancies, we subclassified EBV- associated lymphoproliferations (9 reactive and 24 malignant) from HIV-nega tive and HIV-positive patients by analysis of the EBNA-1, LMP1, and EBNA-2 genes. Our results demonstrate that (1) EBV identical to the prototype B95. 8 strain (Type 1 EBNA-2, wild type EBNA-1 and LMP-I) is very rarely associa ted with turners. (2) The EBNA-1 variant V-leucine, restricted to malignant lymphomas in immunocompetent patients, was readily identified in non-malig nant lesions in HIV infected patients. (3) Variations of EBNA-1 occur indep endent of variations at other loci.