Herpesvirus

[bionewbie]

Hello everyone, I’m currently stuck on this question:

The Epstein Barr virus causes Burkitts lymphoma in parts of the world where malaria is endemic. Why is the connection between lymphoma and malaria and why is this form of cancer tends to be found in the jaw?

[swatkat]

due to immunosuppression caused by malaria the EBV virus is able to infect the person changing the infected b lymphocytes into cancerous cells
as to the jaw
i m not sure
but it must be due to the lymph nodes in the neck region that r infected

[kiekyon]

Burkitt lymphoma occurs when a specialized white blood cell called the B-lymphocyte undergoes cancerous changes. The cells begin to grow and multiply out of control. The cancerous cells form tumors. Burkitt lymphoma is aggressive. This means that once it develops, it can grow quickly.

There are two types of Burkitt lymphoma: the African form and the North American form. In the African form, tumors form under the jaw and in the abdomen. It is associated with an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. This is a common virus, and most people recover from it. However, in African children, Epstein-Barr virus causes cells to turn cancerous. No one is sure why. One theory is that children who have had malaria, which is common in Africa, have weakened immune systems. This may make their bodies more likely to respond this way to an Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The North American form of Burkitt lymphoma affects the bone marrow. Epstein-Barr virus is not a factor in this form of the disease. In North America, Epstein-Barr infections are associated with mononucleosis.

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