Isolation of Selected Epstein - Barr Virus Genes in Swab Samples of Suspected Cases

The reported study has been undertaken to validate a molecular assay for isolation of key EBV proteins in clinical samples of saliva in suspected cases by employing laboratory techniques, namely Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Agarose Gel Electrophoresis (AGE), etc. BamHI Z fragment leftward open reading frame 1 (BZLF1), BCLF1 (major capsid protein) or BC1, and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) were selected as target genes due to their role in the viral replication cycle, latency, oncogenesis, and lytic reactivation. BZLF1 is an immediate-early viral gene, also known as Zta, EB1, or ZEBRA. It is frequently used for the detection of EBV as it is a conserved gene. It plays an important role in converting the EBV from the latent to lytic stage and further leading to viral replication. This is the most studied gene. BCLF1 is a late gene involved in the formation of structural proteins, specifically the major capsid protein, in association with other genes like BFRF3, BDLF1, and BORF1. EBNA1 is a latent gene responsible for the virus's replication, maintenance in infected cells, and evasion from the immune system. All three genes are very important in EBV-related malignancies. The molecular assay was carried out in 11 samples of suspected EBV cases, which showed the presence of at least one of the EBV proteins in all the samples. The BZLF1 gene was most prevalent, as 6 out of 11 samples were found positive for this gene, followed by the BCLF1 gene positive in 5 samples. EBNA1 protein was present only in 2 samples. The results showed good diagnostic utility of PCR to detect EBV genes.