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ebv and the replication dance

For all the children whose curosity knows no bounds, this is for you.

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Meet the ScientistScientist!

Hi! My name is Jaye Gardiner and I’m currently a graduate student at UW-Madison researching how HIV spreads from cell to cell. I absolutely love science, teaching, and mentoring (and in my free time, crafts!) and my dream is to combine all of those things together by being a professor with my own lab some day. For now, I want to make these comics so I can teach you all more about the world around us!

Hello, my name is Khoa (pronounced, ‘kwa’) Tran (pronounced, Tran) and I am a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin where I study stem cells and how they work . One of my favorite hobbies is reading, especially books that have interesting stories with fascinating characters (like our comic!). If I could be one animal, it would be a turtle because I like to take things slow and enjoy life.

Hi friends! I’m Kelly Montgomery, but you can call me Kel. I am a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I work with some pretty cool people to learn how we can use sponges that live in the ocean to make potential new medicines. When I’m not learning how sponges can be used to keep us healthy, I like to play volleyball, make cartoons, cheer for my favorite football team (GO GREEN!), do a bit of blogging, and travel to new exciting places!

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common human viruses. People typically get EBV by exchanging saliva, for instance through kissing or sharing drinks.

By adulthood, 90% of people have had an EBV infection.

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SCHOOL

In these places, there are cells that EBV likes to hang out. These are called B cells.

Most people become infected with EBV during childhood; although it rarely causes physical sickness.

In our body, EBV is found in organs and/or swims through our bloodstream.

Isn’t all blood red? Not without oxygen!

B cell

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What in the world is a B cell?

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Inquisitive Interlude

A type of blood cell that...

Defends against microscopic invaders by using special proteins on its surface

This keeps our bodies healthy!

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Some B cells are in the spleen, while others are between the layers of skin in our gums or near the surface of the tongue.

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EBV spends most of its life sitting quietly in a B cell, never bothering anybody.

It can stay here for years, and nobody will ever see it.

It simply minds its own busi-ness, and never goes outside.

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It can stay here for years, and nobody will ever see it.

It simply minds its own business, and never goes outside.

?

Here, the virus will sometimes hear a signal.

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When the right conditions are met...

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when the right signals are expressed in the B cell...

the virus gets in the mood to groove!

With the mood set, the virus wants to go out and see what life is like inside a different kind of cell, the epithelial cell.

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What is an epithelial cell?

Inquisitive Interlude 2

A type of cell that...Lines the insides of

our organs creating a protective barrier

Can you guess what the largest organ in our body is?

(It‛s made up of epithelial cells)

Answer: It’s our skin!

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But it doesn’t want to go alone, so it starts making copies of itself!

So EBV begins its replication cycle.

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Soon the B cell is full of virus.

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Capsid Racks EXOCYTOSIS

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Okay, EBV, now let’s get in formation!

The viral DNA (EBV) puts on its protein coat and exits the B cell...

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Club Epithelial EBV Night

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...headed straight toward the epithelial cell.

Here, the virus gets the signal to keep on replicating!

Keep calm and replicate on.

That is biologically accurate.

Did she just spit on him? Gross.

exiting club

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Let‛s keep partying!

After hours of partying, the inside of the cell is trashed. EBV has used up all of the cell‛s nutrients.

...others, however, will find their way out of town.

Some viruses will move on to other cells nearby...

With plenty of uninfected epithelial cells, the virus will continue to party.

Carried by saliva in the mouth, the virus will find its way to a new host.

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Capsid Racks

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But partying all day and night just isn‛t EBV‛s personality.

It will find its way to where it really wants to be...

...back in the B cell, sitting quietly, minding its own business.

Research Corner

Hi! My name’s Mark and I’m a graduate student that researches Epstein Barr virus or EBV, the subject of today’s comic! My friends and I can help you!

Why does EBV have glow sticks in the library? Do they mean something?

They represent two proteins, Z and R, from the virus that are important for EBV’s replication (the process of making multiple copies of the DNA genome).

Z and R make it possible for EBV to move from its sleepy latent state, where it quietly reads in the B cell library, to its party lytic state, where it dances in the epithelial cell club.

I learned a lot but I still have a question.Could anyone help me?

What’s your question?

Oh, okay! But what’s a protein?

Cool. So what do Z and R do?

And why is that important?

Awesome! Thanks!

The virus’ ability to go from latent to lytic states is important for viral transmission or the spread of infection. So EBV will take its glow sticks wherever it goes!

Proteins are large molecules that do a lot of work in the cell to keep it running.Think of them like busy little machines.

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DOWN

1. Type of cell EBV invades when it is active.2. Busy machines in the cell that keep the cell running.3. The spread of virus from person to person.4. Process that leads to active replication of the virus.6. The use of experiments and observations to study science.9. One way of spreading EBV can occur through:11. Small infectious agent that can cause bodily harm to people/animals.

ACROSS

5. When the virus is in a sleepy state and not actively replicating.7. Home of Bucky the Badger.8. Type of cell that EBV lies dormant in.10. EBV is the abbreivation for:12. A scientist who studies EBV.13. Process of making multiple copies of the DNA genome. 14. The study of the natural world.

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To understand more about EBV, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-ebv.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein-Barr_virus

To learn more about B and Epithelial Cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_cellhttps://askabiologist.asu.edu/epithelial-cells

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REFERENCES

For more information on R and Z proteins: http://tinyurl.com/EBV-R-and-Z

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Storyboard by:Mark Eichelberg

Artwork by:Jaye Gardiner

Kelly MontgomeryKhoa Tran

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Capsid Racks EXOCYTOSIS

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The viral DNA (EBV) puts on its protein coat and exits the B cell...

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