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Oropharyngeal shedding of Epstein-Barr virus in the absence of circulating B cells

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) results in lifelong infection of B cells in the peripheral blood and in episodic shedding of virus from the oropharynx. We monitored patients treated with rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) and found that several had both no detectable B cells and no EBV in the blood but shed EBV from the throat. Although some models postulate that EBV traffics from the B cells in the blood to the throat, where it is subsequently shed, our findings indicate that circulating EBV in B cells is not necessary for the virus to persist in, and to be shed from, the oropharynx.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)318-323
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume198
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-08-2008
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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