Relevance of transduced Epstein-Barr-Virus RNAs for the infection of B cells and establishment of persistent infection.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Reinhard Zeidler
• Subject Area: Virology ; Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 247985615

Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) is a typical herpesviruses with a large DNA genome. We demonstrated recently, that EBV virions, virus-like particles and subviral particles additionally contain viral mRNAs, microRNAs, and other noncoding RNAs. These RNAs are transduced to recipient B cells upon infection, where they deploy important functions: they contribute to the pre-latent phase (a transient phase immediately following infection, characterized by the expression of various latent and lytic viral genes), induce the production of cytokines, protect infected cells from immune-elimination and, overall, contribute to the success of persisten infections. Hence, transduced viral RNAs govern critical processes immediately after infection of B cells with EBV and likely play important roles in herpesviral infection in general. In this project, we will decipher the biological functions of transduced viral EBV-RNA in more detail and will define their role for persistent EBV infections in vitro and in vivo.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants