Epstein–Barr virus antigen-expressing B cell

**"Epstein–Barr virus antigen-expressing B cell"** refers to human **B lymphocytes** that have been infected by the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and express one or more EBV-derived proteins ("antigens"). These are not individual molecules but rather whole immune cells altered by latent or lytic infection with EBV. Upon infection, EBV enters resting naïve B cells primarily through interaction between its glycoprotein gp350 and the cellular CD21 receptor[1][2][5]. The virus then establishes latency programs within these host cells—Latency III, II, and I—each defined by distinct patterns of viral gene expression that drive changes in host cell behavior such as activation, proliferation, differentiation into memory phenotype, and evasion of apoptosis[1][2][3][6]. These infected/antigen-expressing B cells serve as reservoirs for lifelong persistence of the virus within the host. They play central roles in both normal immune responses to infection and pathogenesis—including transformation into immortalized lymphoblastoid lines in vitro[2][6], contribution to various cancers such as Burkitt lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma[1][6], infectious mononucleosis[1], autoimmune phenomena[7], and other complications. While they are critical players in disease processes targeted indirectly by some therapies (such as anti-CD20 antibodies), they are not themselves considered canonical therapeutic targets like receptors or enzymes. **Note:** This entry is *not* a canonical molecular target but describes an entire class/population of virally modified immune cells. It is therefore marked **is_incorrect: true**, since it does not fit standard definitions for structured drug target databases.

Other names

EBV-infected B cellEBV-transformed B lymphocyteLymphoblastoid cell (when immortalized in vitro)Latently infected B cell (context-dependent)