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Current Insights into the Maturation of Epstein-Barr Virus Particles
1National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
Microorganisms
|April 27, 2024
Summary
Herpesviruses mature and exit cells using a unique membrane budding and fusion process. This review details Epstein-Barr virus maturation, a key gammaherpesvirus, and its role in malignancies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Herpesviruses share a conserved mechanism for virion maturation and egress.
- This process involves sequential budding and fusion events at organelle membranes, preventing cell damage.
- Gammaherpesvirus maturation and egress mechanisms are less understood compared to other subfamilies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms of viral maturation and egress.
- To summarize recent findings on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) maturation and egress.
- To highlight EBV's significance as a ubiquitous human gammaherpesvirus linked to malignancies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of herpesvirus maturation and egress.
- Focus on molecular mechanisms of viral protein-membrane interactions.
- Analysis of recent studies on Epstein-Barr virus.
Main Results:
- Viral DNA is packaged into capsids in the nucleus.
- Nucleocapsids are released into the cytoplasm via primary envelopment (nuclear membrane fusion/budding).
- Secondary envelopment occurs in organelles, followed by transport to the plasma membrane for extracellular release.
Conclusions:
- Herpesvirus maturation involves coordinated viral protein-intracellular membrane interactions.
- Understanding EBV maturation provides insights into gammaherpesvirus replication.
- EBV's role in human malignancies underscores the importance of studying its egress mechanisms.
