The Epstein-Barr virus genome and phenotypic expression during lytic cycle.

The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) has been studied extensively as a human cancer virus. Until recently, however, little was known about the viral genes encoding for different proteins involved in the virus immortalization and replication cycles. Most of the efforts have been directed at those genes expressed in immortalized cells. However, more recently, there has also been advances in the mapping of genes encoding for polypeptides expressed in the virus replication cycle and in the characterization of the proteins encoded by these genes. The purpose of this article is to review some of these new developments in identifying viral genes and their products. In addition, the current status of the development of a subviral vaccine against this virus is discussed.