How a common virus's hijack of cell repair processes may promote cancer

Most people will become infected with Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV, at some point in their lives. In addition to being a common herpesvirus, EBV persists in its host for life as a "quiet" or latent infection. While EBV infection may have no symptoms, it often causes mild illnesses such as mononucleosis (known as the "kissing disease," because EBV spreads through saliva). In rarer instances, EBV plays a critical role in multiple sclerosis and nearly 2% of all cancers.

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