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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Low level of lytic replication in a recombinant Epstein-Barr virus carrying an origin of replication devoid of
1Cancer Research-UK Institute for Cancer Studies, Department of Pathology, University of Birmingham.
Abstract:
Binding of the BZLF1 viral transactivator to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) oriLyt has been reported to be essential for viral DNA replication. We have constructed a recombinant virus (E2-oriLyt-R) in which the oriLyt BZLF1-binding sites (ZRE) were exchanged against papilloma E2-binding sites. A fusion protein between the BZLF1 protein-transactivating domain and the E2 protein-binding domain was able to reactivate lytic replication in E2-oriLyt-R. However, BZLF1 alone could also induce E2-oriLyt-R, albeit with much lower efficiency. ZRE are therefore important but not absolutely essential cis elements for lytic replication. This shows the importance of recombinants to evaluate viral functions.
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