Abstract

ROCHFORD, Rosemary. Epstein-Barr virus infection of infants: implications of early age of infection on viral control and risk for Burkitt lymphoma. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2016, vol.73, n.1, pp.41-46. ISSN 1665-1146.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmhimx.2015.12.001.

Since its first description by Denis Burkitt, endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), the most common childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, has led scientists to search for clues to the origins of this malignancy. The discovery of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in BL cells over 50 years ago led to extensive sero-epidemiology studies and revealed that rather than being a virus restricted to areas where BL is endemic, EBV is ubiquitous in the world's population with an estimated greater than 90% of adults worldwide infected. A second pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria is also linked to BL. In this review, we will discuss recent studies that indicate a role for P. falciparum malaria in dysregulating EBV infection, and increasing the risk for BL in children living where P. falciparum malaria transmission is high.

Keywords : Epstein-Barr virus; Burkitt lymphoma; Plasmodium falciparum; Malaria; Activation induced cytidine deaminase.