Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 (McHV-4), commonly known as rhesus lymphocryptovirus (RLV), is a species of virus in the genus ''

Lymphocryptovirus ''Lymphocryptovirus'' is a genus of viruses in the order ''Herpesvirales'', in the family ''Herpesviridae'', in the subfamily ''Gammaherpesvirinae''. This genus includes the human-infecting ''Human gammaherpesvirus 4'' (Epstein–Barr virus), as ...

'', subfamily ''

Gammaherpesvirinae ''Gammaherpesvirinae'' is a subfamily of viruses in the order ''Herpesvirales'' and in the family ''Herpesviridae''. Viruses in ''Gammaherpesvirinae'' are distinguished by reproducing at a more variable rate than other subfamilies of ''Herpesvir ...

'', family ''

Herpesviridae ''Orthoherpesviridae'', previously named and more widely known as ''Herpesviridae'', is a large family of DNA viruses that cause infections and certain diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are commonly known as herp ...

'', and order ''

Herpesvirales ''Herpesvirales'' is an order of dsDNA viruses (Baltimore group I) with animal hosts, characterised by a common morphology consisting of an icosahedral capsid enclosed in a glycoprotein-containing lipid envelope. Common infections in humans cause ...

''. In nature, RLV infects

rhesus macaques The rhesus macaque (''Macaca mulatta''), colloquially rhesus monkey, is a species of Old World monkey. There are between six and nine recognised subspecies split between two groups, the Chinese-derived and the Indian-derived. Generally brown or g ...

(''Macaca mulatta'').

Comparison with Epstein-Barr virus

Its genetic structure has been fully sequenced and found to be highly homologous with that of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), at 65%. The structural proteins are highly conserved, while genes expressed during ''Human gammaherpesvirus 4'' latent infection are much less well conserved. Even in cases where genes have low homology, the RLV infection genes are functionally interchangeable with EBV genes. RLV infection in rhesus monkeys resembles EBV infection in humans in several respects: * Oral transmission, * Atypical lymphocytosis *

Lymphadenopathy Lymphadenopathy or adenopathy is a disease of the lymph nodes, in which they are abnormal in size or consistency. Lymphadenopathy of an inflammatory type (the most common type) is lymphadenitis, producing swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. In c ...

* Activation of

CD23 CD23, also known as Fc epsilon RII, or FcεRII, is the "low-affinity" biochemistry, receptor for IgE, an antibody isotype involved in allergy and resistance to parasitism, parasites, and is important in regulation of IgE levels. Unlike many of the ...

+ peripheral blood

B cells B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or inserted into the plasm ...

* Sustained serologic responses to

lytic The lytic cycle ( ) is one of the two cycles of viral reproduction (referring to bacterial viruses or bacteriophages), the other being the lysogenic cycle. The lytic cycle results in the destruction of the infected cell and its membrane. Bact ...

and

latent Latency or latent may refer to: Engineering * Latency (engineering), a measure of the time delay experienced by a system ** Latency (audio), the delay between the moment an audio signal is triggered and the moment it is produced or received ** Mec ...

''Human gammaherpesvirus 4''

antigens In immunology, an antigen (Ag) is a molecule, moiety, foreign particulate matter, or an allergen, such as pollen, that can bind to a specific antibody or T-cell receptor. The presence of antigens in the body may trigger an immune response. An ...

* Latent infection in the peripheral blood * Virus persistence in

oropharyngeal The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its ...

secretions These features make the rhesus lymphocryptovirus potentially useful for studying the

pathogenesis In pathology, pathogenesis is the process by which a disease or disorder develops. It can include factors which contribute not only to the onset of the disease or disorder, but also to its progression and maintenance. The word comes . Descript ...

, prevention, and treatment of EBV infection and associated

oncogenesis Carcinogenesis, also called oncogenesis or tumorigenesis, is the formation of a cancer, whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. The process is characterized by changes at the cellular, genetic, and epigenetic levels and abno ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q24808756, from2=Q7320435 Gammaherpesvirinae