Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4
Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4, commonly known as rhesus lymphocryptovirus, is a species of virus in the genus Lymphocryptovirus, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae, and order Herpesvirales.
In nature, RLV infects rhesus macaques.
Comparison with Epstein-Barr virus
Its genetic structure has been fully sequenced and found to be highly homologous with that of Epstein-Barr virus, 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
- Activation of CD23+ peripheral blood B cells
- Sustained serologic responses to lytic and latent Human gammaherpesvirus 4 antigens
- Latent infection in the peripheral blood
- Virus persistence in oropharyngeal secretions