Title : Tree shrew: A new primate-like small animal for EBV research
Abstract:
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in a wide range of human malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and gastric carcinoma. However, progress in elucidating the mechanisms of EBV-associated oncogenesis has been hampered by the absence of an in vivo model that accurately recapitulates human infection. In this study, we propose the tree shrew as a physiologically relevant and genetically tractable animal model for EBV research. Owing to their close evolutionary relationship to primates and a human-like immune system, tree shrews offer unique advantages for studying EBV biology in vivo. Our preliminary data demonstrate that EBV can successfully infect tree shrews, establish latency, and undergo lytic reactivation—mirroring key aspects of human EBV infection. These results represent a critical advancement in overcoming the species barrier in EBV modeling. The tree shrew system provides a promising platform for dissecting EBV-host interactions, evaluating therapeutic interventions, and developing immunotherapeutic strategies against EBV-associated malignancies.
