How Does Epstein-Barr Virus Interact With Other Microbiomes in EBV-Driven Cancers?

Yuxi Wen,Juan Han,Huan Xu,Hongbo Chen,Runming Jin

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.852066

Abstract

The commensal microbiome refers to a large spectrum of microorganisms which mainly consists of viruses and bacteria, as well as some other components such as protozoa and fungi. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is considered as a common component of the human commensal microbiome due to its spread worldwide in about 95% of the adult population. As the first oncogenic virus recognized in human, numerous studies have reported the involvement of other components of the commensal microbiome in the increasing incidence of EBV-driven cancers. Additionally, recent advances have also defined the involvement of host–microbiota interactions in the regulation of the host immune system in EBV-driven cancers as well as other circumstances. The regulation of the host immune system by the commensal microbiome coinfects with EBV could be the implications for how we understand the persistence and reactivation of EBV, as well as the progression of EBV-associated cancers, since majority of the EBV persist as asymptomatic carrier. In this review, we attempt to summarize the possible mechanisms for EBV latency, reactivation, and EBV-driven tumorigenesis, as well as casting light on the role of other components of the microbiome in EBV infection and reactivation. Besides, whether novel microbiome targeting strategies could be applied for curing of EBV-driven cancer is discussed as well.

Highlights

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) could be considered as a component of the human microbiome as a consequence of its roughly sustaining 95% of the adult populations worldwide, and majority of it persists lifelong as an asymptomatic carrier (Dreyfus, 2013; Young et al, 2016; Connolly et al, 2021)
The importance of EBV reactivation is emphasized in the progression of EBV-driven carcinogenesis since the antibodies for capsid antigen and EBVDNase of EBV were observed to be increased prior to the tumorigenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) (Chien et al, 2001)
The function of the commensal microbiome ranges from aiding in metabolism to competing with invasive pathogens (Abt et al, 2012; Belkaid and Hand, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) could be considered as a component of the human microbiome as a consequence of its roughly sustaining 95% of the adult populations worldwide, and majority of it persists lifelong as an asymptomatic carrier (Dreyfus, 2013; Young et al, 2016; Connolly et al, 2021). The commensal microbiome refers to the diverse microorganisms, which consist mainly of bacteria and virus, as well as other components such as archaea, fungi, and protozoa that colonize barrier surfaces of different niches of mammals, such as the skin, vaginal, upper respiratory, and Microbiome in EBV-Driven Cancers gastrointestinal tracts (Lloyd-Price et al, 2016; Barko et al, 2018). Recent virome studies emphasized that viruses, which are abundant in divergent tissues (such as oral cavity, skin, gut, and blood) as well as in the feces of individuals in sickness and in health (Norman et al, 2015; Neil and Cadwell, 2018; Schmidt, 2018; Clooney et al, 2019), are the largest proportion of the human microbiome instead of bacteria (Wylie et al, 2012). The virome of human, which consists of diverse viruses that could infect eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells (Handley, 2016), is an important factor in host health and diseases (Cadwell, 2015)

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Conclusion