Summary
Unlike other herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has not yet been shown to infect macrophages. Six macrophage cultures were isolated from normal and affected samples. Nested polymerase chain reaction revealed the existence of the EBV genome in all these macrophages. EBV latent genes expression in all cultures were detected by mRNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining. Some cultures also expressed EBV replicative-infection proteins, while in other cultures induction of these proteins was demonstrated. These findings are the first to show expression of several latent and replicative-infection genes of EBV in macrophages, indicating that EBV proliferates in macrophages.
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Received June 19, 1998 Accepted August 29, 1998
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Shimakage, M., Kimura, M., Yanoma, S. et al. Expression of latent and replicative-infection genes of Epstein-Barr virus in macrophage. Arch. Virol. 144, 157–166 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007050050492
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007050050492