The discovery and impact of the Epstein-Barr virus continue to unfold, with recent research highlighting potential repurposing of existing drugs to control the virus and prevent associated diseases like cancer in patients with weakened immune systems. Credit: SciTechDaily.com The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause a spectrum of diseases, including a range of cancers.

Emerging data now show that inhibition of a specific metabolic pathway in infected cells can diminish latent infection and therefore the risk of downstream disease. This research was detailed in the journal Science by scientists from the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel. Sixty years ago, pathologist Anthony Epstein and virologist Yvonne Barr announced the discovery of a virus that has carried their names ever since.

The Epstein-Barr virus made scientific history as the first virus proven to cause cancer in humans. Epstein and Barr isolated the pathogen, which is part of the herpesvirus family, from tumor tissue and demonstrated its cancer-causing potential in subsequent experiments. Most people are carriers of EBV: 90% of the adult population are infected with the virus, usually experiencing no symptoms and no resulting illness.

Around 50% become infected before the age of five, but many people don’t catch it until adolescence. Acute infection with the virus can cause glandular fever — also known as “kissing disease” — and can put infected individuals out of action for several month.