The discovery and impact of the Epstein-Barr virus continue to unfold, with recent research highlighting potential repurposing of existing drugs to control the virus and prevent associated diseases like cancer in patients with weakened immune systems. Credit: SciTechDaily.com can cause a spectrum of diseases, including a range of cancers.
As yet, no drug or approved vaccination can specifically thwart EBV within the body. Now, a research group from the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel has reported a promising starting point for putting the brakes on EBV. Their results were published today in the journalResearchers led by Professor Christoph Hess have deciphered how the immune cells infected with EBV —the so-called B cells — are reprogrammed.