Epstein-Barr Virus Linked to Genomic Instability
A protein called EBNA1 from the Epstein-Barr virus has been found to bind to and break human chromosome 11, leading to genomic instability that may increase the risk of cancer. EBV is associated with several types of cancer, and the only viral protein expressed in all types of EBV-related cancer is EBNA1. The study sheds light on how EBV might contribute to cancer development.