Abstract
Gammaherpesviruses are an important class of oncogenic pathogens that are exquisitely evolved to their respective hosts. As such, the human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) do not naturally infect nonhuman primates or rodents. There is a clear need to fully explore mechanisms of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis, host control, and immune evasion in the host. A gammaherpesvirus pathogen isolated from murid rodents was first reported in 1980; 40 years later, murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68, MuHV-4, γHV68) infection of laboratory mice is a well-established pathogenesis system recognized for its utility in applying state-of-the-art approaches to investigate virus-host interactions ranging from the whole host to the individual cell. Here, we highlight recent advancements in our understanding of the processes by which MHV68 colonizes the host and drives disease. Lessons that inform KSHV and EBV pathogenesis and provide future avenues for novel interventions against infection and virus-associated cancers are emphasized.
Highlights
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68, MuHV-4, γHV68), a natural pathogen of murid rodents, is widely used to discover and understand key pathogenic determinants of in vivo gammaherpesvirus infections
MHV68 was isolated from bank voles; related strains have been isolated from bank voles and yellow-necked mice, and numerous rodent species appear to serve as reservoirs
Type I IFN cytokines dampen both acute replication and reactivation from latency; their potency is evident in the mortality that manifests in MHV68-infected mice lacking IFNαβ receptor or STAT1 [85]
Summary
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68, MuHV-4, γHV68), a natural pathogen of murid rodents, is widely used to discover and understand key pathogenic determinants of in vivo gammaherpesvirus infections. MHV68 shares key biologic properties with the human gammaherpesviruses KSHV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, HHV-4), including establishment of latency in B cells and propensity to drive tumorigenesis. MHV68 protein products and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) engage and usurp germinal center (GC) reactions to gain access to the long-lived memory B cell compartment. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) encodes a wide breadth of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), ranging from 10-kb long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) to 21-nt microRNAs (miRNAs) (Figure 2). As evidenced by the conserved activity of MHV68 transfer RNA-miRNA-encoded RNA (TMER) 4 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded small RNA (EBER) 1, many of these molecules likely exhibit functional overlap with EBV and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) ncRNAs. Consistent with this, of 1,505 identified host messenger RNA targets of MHV68 miRNAs, 86% are shared with EBV and/or KSHV [142]. Future research will undoubtedly continue to unveil surprising functions for ncRNAs in gammaherpesvirus pathobiology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
