Infectious Mononucleosis

From Kissing Disease to Cancer

Infectious Mononucleosis is an illness caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus, an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus, as well as Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV). Signs and symptoms of this virus include fatigue, fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes. This illness is often called the “kissing disease” because it is spread via saliva and thus can be obtained by kissing someone who is infected. What most people don’t know is that once you have Mono, you always have Mono. This virus is life-long and can be reactivated by various things as it lies dormant in the tissues. Another thing that many people don’t know is that the reactivated form of this virus can result in cells that grow abnormally and are cancerous. These cancerous results are the focus for scientists at the University of Minnesota and the University of Toronto.

A Human Enzyme

According to this new research, there is a human enzyme, APOBEC3B, that is able to replicate and kill the viruses, but this is not how the plot unfolds. In reality, both viruses can produce defense proteins that bind to and combat this enzyme to remove if from the sites of infection. Thus, new research is being conducted using CRSPR/Cas-9 to delete the defense protein from the virus genome so that the human enzyme can continue to target the virus. In labs, these trials have been successful but they have yet to be used in living organisms, such as mice. But once it develops, this method of treatment will serve as a treatment for Mono, and prevent possible cancer development.

This research is a prime example of scientists targeting certain virulence factors on microbes in order to render them less pathogenic. In this case, that virulence factor is the release of the defense mechanism that hinders enzyme APOBEC3B of the human immune response to this virus. Although there trivial opinions of CRSPR and the manipulation of genes, I think this counts as an extraordinary example where this technology is beneficial, and if it doesn’t harm the recipient of the treatment, who could argue the ethics? PLUS, one more way to combat cancer? I mean it doesn’t get better than that! #VFORVICTORY