Epstein-Barr Virus: Identifying Key Target in EBV-Driven Diseases Offers Hope for New Therapies, Breakthrough Study Finds

Scientists from the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel have discovered an innovative approach to fighting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)- related illnesses, including particular types of cancer.

The results help us understand how the virus changes cells when it infects them. This gives us new hope for targeted treatments that lower the risk of getting EBV.

Identifying Key Target in EBV-Driven Diseases Offers Hope for New Therapies — (Photo: Unsplash/ Iván Díaz )

Figuring out EBV's Metabolic Hijacking

In 1958, pathologist Anthony Epstein and virologist Yvonne Barr made history when they proved that EBV was the first virus that could cause cancer in people. The herpesvirus virus has been linked to many different illnesses since then, such as some types of cancer and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Prof. Christoph Hess and his team led the study. They wanted to find out how EBV changes the metabolism of infected cells, mostly B cells, to make the infection last longer and the disease worse. During their study, they found something shocking: EBV makes infected cells produce more of an enzyme called IDO1.

This increases energy production in mitochondria and helps infected B cells proliferate. The journal Science published their groundbreaking work.

One significant result of the study was that transplant patients had higher levels of IDO1 months before they developed EBV-caused blood cancers. This implies that we could use IDO1 levels as biomarkers to detect diseases at an early stage.

Researchers used this information to investigate the potential use of IDO1 inhibitors, previously unsuccessful as cancer treatments, to combat EBV infection. Hess asserts that existing IDO1 drugs could effectively combat EBV infections and their associated diseases.

In tests with mice, blocking IDO1 slowed down the changing of B cells and the growth of lymphoma that followed. These findings are encouraging for future treatment approaches.

Impacts on the management and treatment of diseases

Because immunosuppressant drugs make transplant patients more likely to have EBV-related complications, targeted treatments are a big step forward in managing the disease. Current methods use broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, but developing specific treatments for EBV could enhance the effectiveness of prevention and treatment.

Finding a drug-treatable metabolic vulnerability in EBV-driven diseases opens up new treatment options and gives patients hope for improved outcomes and quality of life. As studies in this area progress, turning these findings into clinical applications could transform the treatment of EBV-related diseases and the entire field of modern medicine.

In the future, we need to conduct more research to understand the precise mechanisms behind the metabolic changes caused by EBV and to enhance the effectiveness of IDO1 inhibitors as clinical medicines. Additionally, continuous efforts are required to develop novel antiviral strategies that specifically target EBV replication and persistence, aiming to address the numerous issues caused by EBV-driven diseases.

This study's joint nature, which bridges the gap between basic Science and clinical practice, shows the importance of using methods from different fields to solve complex medical problems. Through new technologies and collaborations between researchers from various fields, scientists hope to learn more about how EBV-driven diseases start and how to make treatments specific to the needs of people with these illnesses.