Inhibition of Epstein‐Barr Virus by an Atypical Antipsychotic

Abstract

The Epstein‐Barr Virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes virus family and causes infectious mononucleosis. Epstein‐Barr Virus was the first virus discovered to cause cancer in humans. After infection with EBV, the virus maintains a lifelong dormant infection within the host. The virus's life cycle consists of two phases, the latent and the lytic phase. The latent phase allows the virus to lie dormant within the host without presenting any symptoms, while during the lytic phase the virus reproduces and spreads among cells. The virus switches between the latent and lytic phases in response to environmental stimuli, including some pharmaceuticals. We investigated the response of the virus to atypical antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Atypical antipsychotics, also known as second generation antipsychotics, have a different chemical structure and are generally more effective than the typical (first generation) antipsychotics. The effects of varying concentrations of the drugs on the reactivation of EBV into the lytic cycle were tested. The degree of viral reactivation was measured by expression of the viral BZLF1 gene, a regulatory gene expressed during reactivation into the Epstein‐Barr Virus lytic cycle. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) monitored BZLF1 gene expression. Expression of the BZLF1 gene and viral reactivation was found to be inhibited. Understanding the conditions and cellular pathways that inhibit the lytic phase of the virus will help to better understand the virus's life cycle in order to develop treatments for cancers caused by Epstein‐Barr Virus.Support or Funding InformationThis work was funded by the UWL College of Science and Health, UWL Faculty Research Grants to KLG, and Undergraduate Research and Creativity grants to AGA.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.