LMP1 promoter sequence analysis in Epstein Barr virus pediatric infection reveals preferential circulation of B95.8 related variants in Argentina

A novel recombinant variant of latent membrane protein 1 from Epstein Barr virus in Argentina denotes phylogeographical association

“…On the other hand, co-infection with several EBV variants was reported in adult patients with IM [46–48], probably given by a higher viral inoculum transmitted through kissing; however, in pediatric primary infection these co-infections are infrequent, as observed in our previous reports in other EBV genes [38,42,49] and by others [43,44]. Indeed, when studying chronic active EBV infection in children, Jin et al found a small proportion of co-infections but failed to do so in IM samples [44].…”

Epstein–Barr Virus Strain Variation

“…A rarer 69-bp deletion in the C-terminus has also been studied (Hadhri-Guiga et al 2006); it was reported to have a reduced ability to activate the cell AP1 transcription factor (Larcher et al 2003). In general, it is clear that these LMP1 variants are widely distributed with somewhat different frequencies in different parts of the world, but in most studies, there was no evidence for a specific association with disease (Senyuta et al 2014;Gantuz et al 2013). Other reports of LMP1 variation associated with specific populations and disease contexts, for example gastric and oral carcinoma (Chen et al 2010BenAyed-Guerfali et al 2011;Higa et al 2002), have mostly lacked sufficient numbers or control samples to interpret in the context of the relationship between variation and disease, but some studies have suggested an association with disease (Corvalan et al 2006).…”