What is a Gammaherpesvirus?

The Gammaherpesvirinae is a large subfamily of the family Herpesviridae. Although gammaherpesviruses usually cause limited disease upon primary infection of their natural hosts, several are relevant tumor viruses of the hematopoietic system and form an important chapter of viral oncology.

What illness is caused by human Gammaherpesvirus?

HHV4, also known as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous gammaherpesvirus prevalent in 90 to 95% of the human population, is clinically associated with various neurological diseases such as primary central nervous system lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebellar ataxia, and encephalitis.

What disease does Gammaherpesvirus 4 cause?

Other Gammaherpesviruses Human herpesvirus 4 (EBV) causes mononucleosis, lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in people.

What is the common name for human Gammaherpesvirus?

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), formally called Human gammaherpesvirus 4, is one of the nine known human herpesvirus types in the herpes family, and is one of the most common viruses in humans. EBV is a double-stranded DNA virus. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis (“mono” or “glandular fever”).

How do you treat human Gammaherpesvirus?

Standard therapies for these diseases involve such approaches as treating the underlying immunodeficiency, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and immunologic antitumor therapy. Novel therapy approaches include specific immune therapy and anti-angiogenesis approaches, now under development.

How serious is Epstein-Barr?

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause illnesses and complications aside from infectious mononucleosis. People with weakened immune systems may develop more severe symptoms and complications from EBV infection. They may also have more severe illness caused by EBV infection.

Can I give oral with mono?

But they do know that the virus which causes mono can be found in saliva and genital secretions. It’s quite possible that infection could be passed on during oral sex. Mono, known to doctors as infectious mononucleosis, is usually caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.

When can I kiss after mono?

Also, people who have had mono can still have the virus in their saliva long after the illness is over. Typically, the virus is present in the saliva for about 30-45 days, but it can appear on and off in the saliva for up to 18 months in some people.

How contagious is Epstein-Barr?

The virus that causes mono (Epstein-Barr virus) is spread through saliva. You can get it through kissing, but you can also be exposed by sharing a glass or food utensils with someone who has mono. However, mononucleosis isn’t as contagious as some infections, such as the common cold.

Can two people with mono kiss?

It is advisable to at least refrain from kissing while there are active symptoms present (i.e. sore throat, fever, swollen glands). Mono may be contracted from carriers (someone who has the organism causing the disease, but who does not become ill).

What do we know about gammaherpesviruses?

Gammaherpesviruses are of primary interest due to the two human viruses, EBV and KSHV and the diseases they cause. The gammaherpesviruses replicate and persist in lymphoid cells but some are capable of undergoing lytic replication in epithelial or fibroblast cells.

Is Murid herpesvirus 68 a gammaherpesvirus?

Gammaherpesviruses may be a cause of chronic fibrotic lung diseases in humans and in animals. Murid herpesvirus 68 is an important model system for the study of gammaherpesviruses with tractable genetics.

Do other genes play a role in viral transformation in gammaherpes?

Although the first ORF in these gammaherpesviruses have oncogenic potential, other viral genes may also play a role in viral transformation. A striking feature of the four gammaherpesviruses is that they contain distinct ORFs involved in lymphocyte signaling events.

What do we know about gammaherpesviruses and fibrotic lung diseases?

Gammaherpesviruses may be a cause of chronic fibrotic lung diseases in humans and in animals. Murid herpesvirus 68 is an important model system for the study of gammaherpesviruses with tractable genetics. The gammaherpesviruses, including HVS, EBV, KSHV, and RRV, are capable of establishing latent infection in lymphocytes.