Replication of Epstein-Barr Virus Primary Infection in Human Tonsil Tissue Explants
2011

Modeling Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Human Tonsil Tissue

Sample size: 12 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gotoh Kensei, Ito Yoshinori, Maruo Seiji, Takada Kenzo, Mizuno Terukazu, Teranishi Masaaki, Nakata Seiichi, Nakashima Tsutomu, Iwata Seiko, Goshima Fumi, Nakamura Shigeo, Kimura Hiroshi

Primary Institution: Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine

Hypothesis

Can human tonsil tissue be used to model Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and study its replication?

Conclusion

The study successfully established a model for EBV infection in human tonsil tissues, demonstrating the potential for analyzing local tissue pathology and screening antiviral agents.

Supporting Evidence

  • EBV DNA levels increased significantly in culture medium after 12 days post-infection.
  • Expression levels of eight EBV-associated genes were found to be elevated during the culture.
  • ACV treatment reduced EBV replication in a dose-dependent manner.

Takeaway

Researchers used human tonsil tissues to study how the Epstein-Barr virus infects and replicates, which can help in finding new treatments.

Methodology

Human tonsil tissues were infected with EBV and cultured to observe viral replication and gene expression over time.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the limited number of donors and the specific characteristics of the tissues used.

Limitations

Variability in tissue response among donors and difficulty in evaluating immune responses due to tissue deterioration over time.

Participant Demographics

Human tonsil tissues from EBV-seronegative individuals were used.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025490

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