Research landmarks on the 60th anniversary of Epstein-Barr virus

Lan-Yi Zhong; Chu Xie; Le-Le Zhang; Yan-Lin Yang; Yuan-Tao Liu; Ge-Xin Zhao; Guo-Long Bu; Xian-Shu Tian; Zi-Ying Jiang; Bo-Yu Yuan; Peng-Lin Li; Pei-Huang Wu; Wei-Hua Jia; Christian Münz; Benjamin E Gewurz; Qian Zhong; Cong Sun; Mu-Sheng Zeng

doi:10.1007/s11427-024-2766-0

Research landmarks on the 60th anniversary of Epstein-Barr virus

Sci China Life Sci. 2025 Feb;68(2):354-380. doi: 10.1007/s11427-024-2766-0. Epub 2024 Nov 4.

Authors

Lan-Yi Zhong^#¹, Chu Xie^#¹, Le-Le Zhang^#¹, Yan-Lin Yang^#¹, Yuan-Tao Liu^#¹, Ge-Xin Zhao¹, Guo-Long Bu¹, Xian-Shu Tian¹, Zi-Ying Jiang¹, Bo-Yu Yuan¹, Peng-Lin Li¹, Pei-Huang Wu¹, Wei-Hua Jia¹, Christian Münz², Benjamin E Gewurz^{3

4

5

6}, Qian Zhong¹, Cong Sun⁷, Mu-Sheng Zeng⁸

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
² Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
⁵ Harvard Program in Virology, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
⁶ Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China. suncong@sysucc.org.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China. zengmsh@sysucc.org.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39505801
DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2766-0

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the first human oncovirus discovered in 1964, has become a focal point in virology, immunology, and oncology because of its unique biological characteristics and significant role in human diseases. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of EBV's discovery, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the major advancements in our understanding of this complex virus. In this review, we highlight key milestones in EBV research, including its virion structure and life cycle, interactions with the host immune system, association with EBV-associated diseases, and targeted intervention strategies.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; antibodies; epidemiology; immune response; oncovirus; vaccines.

Publication types

Review
Historical Article

MeSH terms

Animals
Anniversaries and Special Events
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / immunology
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / virology
Herpesvirus 4, Human* / genetics
Herpesvirus 4, Human* / immunology
Herpesvirus 4, Human* / pathogenicity
Herpesvirus 4, Human* / physiology
History, 20th Century
History, 21st Century
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Virion