Epstein-Barr virusThe smallest type of organism known. A single virus particle (called a virion) is much smaller than a cell. Viruses reproduce by invading cells and forcing the cells to make progeny virions. Viruses generally have specific host cells which they infect. Some virus types are associated with specific cancers and can convert normal cells into cancer cells. Examples of viruses associated with cancer are: papillomavirus-cervical cancer, hepatitis virus-liver cancer, Epstein-Barr virus-Burkitt's lymphoma. Virus-induced transformation of cells was one of the very first model systems for the study of cancer. Viruses have also been a key tool in the identification of many oncogenes. Because of their great ability to enter target cells viruses such as adenoviruses are being examined for their ability to deliver genes to cancer cells., the cause of infectious mononucleosis, or 'mono', also called the 'kissing disease', is a known cause of head/neck, blood, and stomach cancer as well as others. New research has now shown that the virus can cause breast cells to become cancerous as well. Whether the virus causes breast cancer in humans is not yet known.
Because about 90% of people in the world have been infected with this virus at some time, the results make the development of a vaccine even more important.
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