Epigenetic Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced B Lymphocyte Transformation
Professor Robert Baiocchi (Internal Medicine)
Benjamin Yuh (Biology)
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpes virus that infects and establishes latent infection in the majority of humans. EBV is a potent cancer causing virus and is capable of transforming B cells which can result in aggressive malignancies in immune deficient individuals. An EBV transformed cell contains elevated levels of a family of proteins (BCL2) that plays a role in the survival of a cancer cell; however, research shows that these transformed cells have lower levels of micro RNAs, which are important to gene expression, while non-transformed cells have lower levels of BCL2 and higher micro RNA levels. Our research focuses on EBV-transformed B cells and if micro RNAs are important in regulating the survival mechanism associated with BCL2.