Novel small non-coding RNAs of Epstein-Barr virus upregulated upon lytic reactivation aid in viral genomic replication and virion production

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) employs various strategies for long-term survival, including the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). This study uncovers and characterizes two novel EBV-encoded ncRNAs, p7 and p8, which are upregulated during lytic reactivation and interact with both viral and host genomes. These ncRNAs bind to cellular RNA transcripts, significantly reducing ARMCX3 mRNA levels, while p8 also influences PTPN6 and RPL24 expressions. Although p7 does not directly bind to LMP1 RNA but both ncRNAs found to downregulate LMP1 expression. Furthermore, these ncRNAs interact with the OriLyt region of EBV genome, promoting viral DNA replication. Functional assays indicate that p7 and p8 enhance cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by modulating the p53 pathway and suppressing pro-apoptotic proteins. These findings highlight the role of p7 and p8 in supporting EBV persistence by regulating viral replication, cell survival, and immune evasion, making them promising targets for therapeutic strategies in EBV-related diseases.IMPORTANCEEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) employs diverse strategies for long-term persistence in the host, including the expression of viral non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that manipulate key cellular pathways to promote viral replication and immune evasion. This study identifies two novel EBV-encoded ncRNAs, p7 and p8, which are upregulated during lytic reactivation and interact with both viral and host genes to regulate viral DNA replication and promote host cellular survival. By modulating apoptotic and proliferative pathways, p7 and p8 facilitate viral reactivation while promoting host cell survival, highlighting their potential as critical regulators in EBV-driven oncogenesis. This discovery expands our understanding of EBV-host interactions, suggesting p7 and p8 as targets for novel therapeutic strategies in EBV-associated malignancies.