Reflections on Epstein-Barr virus: Some recently resolved old uncertainties

The change over recent decades in perceptions of the role of viruses in hum an cancer-causation is illustrated by the reception given to the discovery of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 1964 compared to that of Kaposi's sarcoma he rpesvirus (KSHV or HHV-8) in 1994. Very new data on EBV-like agents in New World monkeys is considered in rela tion to the antiquity of the association of proto-EBV with early anthropoid s. Although the finding that individuals without B lymphocytes do not seem to be infected with EBV appears to have resolved the controversy regarding the permissive cell type producing infectious virus in the oropharynx, the pre sence of EBV in certain squamous and other epithelial cells raises continui ng problems which are discussed. Among many recent successes of molecular biology applied to EBV, new inform ation from such investigations on the genetic defect in X-linked lymphoprol iferative syndrome now explains the cause of the disastrous pathological ch anges underlying the disease. Finally, current progress with vaccines against EBV is reviewed. (C) 2001 T he British Infection Society.