Is the “kissing disease” living up to its name?

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes family and primarily infects B cells and epithelial cells. It is one of the most common viruses and persists in the body for life. It infects over 90% of the human population, but a majority of individuals show no recognizable illness in response to the infection. We’ve all heard about “mono” and perhaps, many of us have unfortunately experienced it first hand. Infectious mononucleosis is most commonly caused by EBV. Mononucleosis, or “mono”, is a contagious disease that typically affects teenagers and adults. Since mononucleosis is spread through bodily fluids, it is referred to as the “kissing disease.” Once an individual is infected with EBV, symptoms of mononucleosis present themselves about 4-6 weeks later. The most common symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen tonsils.

 

One study found that mono might actually be living up to its name, the “kissing disease.” 546 College students were tracked throughout their college careers. At the start of the study, about 63 percent of the students had already been exposed to the disease, indicated by antibodies for the virus that were found in their blood. The other 37 percent of the students were tested for the disease every eight weeks for two years.

Of those students, 66 developed mono, with 59 of them displaying symptoms. The researchers found that the students who reported having engaged in deep kissing were more likely to contract infectious mononucleosis than the students that did not engage in the activity.

Another study, done by researchers at the University of Montreal, determined that mono begins with the “kiss of a molecular sort.” The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has strategies to trick human cell defenses. EBV mimics components of human cell function, such as RNA polymerase. Understanding how this trickery occurs is important in developing therapeutic treatments for viral infection. Researchers in this particular study were investigating how the EBNA2 protein of EBV binds to one of the proteins of the TFIIH complex that helps regulate another protein, RNA polymerase II. RNA polymerase II is a protein responsible for the control of most of our genes. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the molecular structures of the EBNA2 protein and TFII. Although more research must be done, understanding the “kissing” interaction between EBNA2 proteins and TFIIH could be a possible target for future drug development to treating mono.

Although people joke about mono and call it the “kissing disease,” it is nothing to laugh about. It is most common in people ages 10-30, making busy college students a prime target for infection.  While mono is not as contagious as the common cold, it can be worrisome to college students. Once infected, there is no real treatment available, the disease just has to run its course. Although it is not considered a serious illness, mono can change the life of a college student for at least a few months. Busy lifestyles should be avoided in order to fully recover, which can be difficult in the very social college environment. Students should be sure to take measures to prevent developing mono during their college careers and be aware that the “kissing disease” is living up to its name!

 

 

 

Bibliography:

CDC (2014) Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis.<http://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-mono.html&gt; (Accessed:  April 18, 2016).

Medical Daily (2012) Mono, ‘The Kissing Disease’, Really Is Spread Primarily Through Kissing. <http://www.medicaldaily.com/mono-kissing-disease-really-spread-primarily-through-kissing-244059> (Accessed: April 18, 2016).

College Bound Network. Why Am I So Tired?<http://www.collegebound.net/content/article/why-am-i-so-tired-/19328/&gt; (Accessed: April 18, 2016).

 

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http://www.consultantlive.com/infection/epstein-barr-virus-infections-5-things-primary-care-physicians-need-know-now

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