Description:

THE SPEAR LECTURE

The Epstein-Barr herpesvirus (EBV) is an important human pathogen that is closely linked to several major malignancies including the major epithelial tumor, undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The consistent detection of EBV in all cases of NPC, the maintenance of the viral genome in every cell, and the continued expression of viral gene products suggests that EBV is a necessary factor for the malignant growth in vivo. The viral oncoproteins, latent membrane protein 1 and 2, have significant effects on epithelial cell growth regulation. Additionally, the viral noncoding RNAs are expressed at very high levels in NPC. This presentation will present our current understanding of the potential contribution of EBV viral proteins and RNAs to the development and growth of malignant epithelial cells.

Nancy Raab-Traub, PhD

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Host: Dr. Richard Longnecker