Research progress on the structure of Epstein-Barr virus

<p indent="0mm">Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human γ herpes virus, is a widely spread worldwide. EBV infection is closely related to the occurrence and development of infectious mononucleosis, various tumors, autoimmune diseases and Long COVID. EBV causes a serious disease burden, but there is currently no effective vaccines or specific antiviral drugs on the market. EBV belongs to the double stranded DNA virus and has a typical three-layer structure of envelope interlayer nucleocapsid of herpes virus. In recent years, with the advancement of structural biology technology, the spatial structures of EBV envelope glycoproteins, interlayer proteins, and nucleocapsid proteins have been elucidated, and the interaction networks between proteins and the interactions between capsid protein subunits have also been demonstrated. This will provide guidance for the rational design of EBV vaccines, antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors. In addition, structural analysis of EBV-encoded proteins will aid to understand the interaction between the virus and the host, and further explore the function of viral proteins. This review article summarizes the structure of EBV, virus assembly and release processes, the structures and functions of EBV envelope glycoproteins, interlayer proteins, and nucleocapsid proteins that have been reported so far, as well as the interaction networks between these three types of proteins. These findings will pave the way for the rational design of vaccines and therapeutics on the basis of EBV structures against EBV infection and associated diseases.