![]() ![]() ![]() Then, it destroys the cells and goes infect other ones, repeating the same process over and over again, releasing substances that cause the symptoms of mono. EBV sneaks into B-cells and uses them to multiply itself, like a printer. EBV prefers to infect B lymphocytes and, once it does so, it can live in those cells for the rest of a person’s life. EBV is a member of the herpes virus family and can be found all over the world.Īll viruses that infect humans need human cells to survive and reproduce, and EBV is no exception. Today, we call this virus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4). While they were observing lymphocytes from a patient with Burkitt’s lymphoma under the microscope, they saw some particles inside the cells and noticed the particles were similar to a virus they had seen before, but smaller. Scientists were trying to understand the cause of Burkitts’s lymphoma. This disease happens when something goes wrong with the lymph nodes and the lymphocytes grow out of control, becoming a type of cancer called a lymphoma. In 1964, a group of scientists was studying a disease of the lymphatic system called Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Image credit: Servier Medical Art under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. EBV infects the lymphocytes in lymph nodes. Epstein-Barr virus is carried in the saliva of an infected person and is transmitted by kissing or by sharing things like drinking glasses or toothbrushes.Figure 1 - The lymphatic system and its organs: A lymph node and the spleen.All these defense organs and cells are called upon when infectious microbes invade the body. The network of the lymphatic system can be seen in Figure 1. The spleen is also a site of lymphocyte production, so when you need to fight an infection, the spleen will enlarge as these lymphocytes divide and produce a huge number of antibodies. The spleen is located in the left upper part of the abdomen. The spleen can be compared to a police station-it works like a big filter and can pick out and trap any unwelcome microbes present in the blood. ![]() The spleen is another important organ in the body’s defense system. B lymphocytes, also called B-cells, fight microbes by producing molecules called antibodies that bind to the microbes and inactivate or eliminate them. When an infection happens, the lymph nodes enlarge because they are producing lots of white blood cells to fight the infection. Lymphocytes can recognize microbial intruders and prevent or cure infections. There are multiple types of white blood cells and lymphocytes, which live mostly inside lymph nodes, are one type. The job of white blood cells is to identify and fight invading microbes that could harm us. White blood cells are special cells produced in the bone marrow, which then travel to the rest of the body through the blood and the lymphatic system. As lymph moves through the vessels, it passes through pea-size filters called lymph nodes, which are basically checkpoints that monitor and cleanse the lymph. ![]() It includes tubes called lymphatic vessels, which contain a watery fluid called lymph. The lymphatic system is like a drainage network that runs throughout the body. Mono affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s defense system. This virus spreads through fluids like saliva, so when people kiss or share a glass, they can pass the virus to others. “The kissing disease” is a common name for infectious mononucleosis, which is also called “mono.” Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Kissing Disease: A Disease of the Lymphatic System Have you ever had a sore throat and fever? Maybe it was caused by Epstein-Barr virus! This virus mainly affects the cells of the lymphatic system, which defends the body from infections, so you can imagine why it is so interesting! Keep reading to learn more about this curious disease. This is a tricky disease because it can have many symptoms that are also common to other diseases. This virus is now named Epstein-Barr virus, and it causes a disease called infectious mononucleosis, also known as the kissing disease. They saw small particles inside the cells and discovered they were viruses. In 1964, a group of scientists was using a microscope to study the cells of someone with a disease called Burkitt’s lymphoma. ![]()
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