Genetics and Molecular Biology of Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BART MicroRNA: A Paradigm for Viral Modulation of Host Immune Response Genes and Genome Stability

Figure 1

EBV viral genome expression (center) potential for effects on bystander cells of the human immune response are summarized. EBV-encoded BART microRNA may suppress the host immune response and destabilize host genomes in bystander cells through hit-and-run mechanisms during viral latency (top). EBV may also alter the immune response in bystander cells through induced expression of a HERV (human endogenous retrovirus) superantigen by the viral LMP2A protein also expressed during viral latency (left). Induction of viral lytic gene expression by the viral ZEBRA protein may also affect bystander cells through transient expression of viral mRNA as well as viral-encoded microRNA and viral recombinases and other factors altering host genome stability.