Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gH (gH) (gH)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein gH is a conserved viral envelope protein that plays a fundamental role in the infection process of EBV, a member of the herpesvirus family. It functions as part of a heterodimeric complex with glycoprotein L (gH/gL), which is essential for mediating the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell plasma membrane or endosomal membrane (UniProt: P03231). The gH/gL complex acts as a central gatekeeper for entry; in B cells, it forms a tripartite complex with gp42 to bind HLA class II, while in epithelial cells, it interacts with receptors such as EphA2 or integrins to trigger fusion (PubMed: 29305431). Because EBV is linked to a wide range of pathologies, including infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and multiple sclerosis, gH is a high-priority target for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions (PubMed: 35025603). Current drug development efforts include mRNA vaccines (e.g., mRNA-1189) and monoclonal antibodies (e.g., AMMO1) designed to block the fusion-triggering activity of gH, thereby preventing viral entry and subsequent infection (PubMed: 30626681; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05164796).

Other names

Envelope glycoprotein HBKRF2EBV gHGlycoprotein HgH/gL complex component

Neutralization of viral entry by blocking the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane and preventing interaction with host receptors such as EphA2 or the gH/gL/gp42-HLA class II complex.