Molecular Biology of Epstein-Barr Virus
Eric Johannsen, MD, is an infectious disease physician and internationally recognized expert on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated diseases. He leads National Institutes of Health-funded research on the molecular biology of EBV.
Research Overview
Dr. Johannsen's research focuses on the molecular biology of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), how the virus regulates its lifecycle and the pathogenesis of EBV-associated malignancies. Herpesviruses infect their hosts for life and EBV precisely manipulates growth and survival signaling pathways of B lymphocytes, resulting in their immortalization.
Understanding the mechanisms that EBV has evolved to exploit infected cells is an important basis for therapy of EBV associated diseases and offers a unique vantage from which to view and understand complex cellular pathways.