Some recent developments in the molecular epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus infections

We have applied two different recombinant DNA techniques to the study of the epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus infections. In the first application, cloned subfragments of viral DNA were used as probes to detect EBV DNA in a variety of lymphoproliferative disorders and in lymphoid cell lines. Patients who are epidemiologically unrelated harbor EBV genotypes which can readily be distinguished from each other. Patients who are epidemiologically related (such as mothers and infants) have similar EBV genotypes. Some patients, especially those who are immunocompromised, are infected with two distinct genotypes. In the second application, we have examined the immune response to specific EBV antigens expressed from small cloned viral DNA subfragments. We have identified a group of patients with presumed chronic EBV infection who selectively fail to recognize one subcomponent of the EB nuclear antigen complex.