Selective vulnerability to Epstein-Barr virus

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus may be asymptomatic, cause infectious mononucleosis or cause serious B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases. A selective vulnerability to the virus has been reported in combination with hereditary mutations altering T-cell immunity. In this study, The researchers describe biased variants associated with involvement of the IL-27 pathway, resulting in acute and severe primary EBV infection with a favorable outcome requiring minimal treatment. In in vitro studies, IL-27 exerts a synergistic effect on the proliferation of T lymphocytes dependent on T7 lymphocytes receptors. This proliferation is deficient in some patients, resulting in impaired expansion of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes, anti-EBV effectors.