# EBV SPECIFIC ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $189,996

## Abstract

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been studied extensively as a
causative agent of some forms of human cancer.  These
investigations have included immunological studies on patients
with EBV-associated cancers and on tumor tissues suspected to
harbor the EBV genome.  Such studies have resulted in the
identification of antibodies to specific EBV antigens that are of
diagnostic and prognostic importance in patients with EBV-
associated diseases and in the identification of some of the
antigens important in immunity to the virus-infected or
transformed cells.  Until recently, however, little was known
about the composition of the different EBV antigen complexes.
This laboratory has focused on the identification and
characterization of the native polypeptides associated with the
different EBV antigen complexes over the past 11 years through
the support of this NCI grant.  These studies have resulted in the
identification of the major polypeptides associated with the EBV-
induced membrane antigen (MA), viral capsid antigen (VCA) and
early antigen (EA) complexes.  These polypeptides have been
mapped to specific fragments of EBV DNA and the biological
activity associated with some of these polypeptides has been
identified.  Monoclonal antibodies have been generated to all of
the polypeptides which have been used by numerous investigators
working on EBV.  The specific aims of this renewal proposal for
years 12-16 are:  (1) to continue to identify and fully characterize
polypeptides associated with each of these major antigen
complexes and to utilize the purified polypeptide in different
immunological studies; (2) to attempt to determine the
importance of polypeptides associated with these different
antigen complexes in the induction of T-cell immunity against the
virus-infected or transformed cell; (3) to continue to determine if
the prognostic importance of antibody measured by the ADCC is
assay related to the presence of IgA antibodies to specific
epitopes expressed on the major MA glycoprotein; (4) to perform
ultrastructural studies to determine the biological significance of
the cytoplasmic filamentous structures associated with the
restricted (R) component of the EA complex; and (5) to continue
to collaborate with other investigators using our monoclonal
reagents.  Completion of these studies will lead to a better
understanding of the nature of the viral proteins important to the
development of both humoral and cellular immunity to the virus-
infected and transformed cells and could lead to the development
of new approaches for the prevention or treatment of EBV-
associated diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178808
- **Project number:** 2R01CA039617-05A1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TF2CMKY1HMX9
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY R. PEARSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $189,996
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1993-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178808, EBV SPECIFIC ANTIGENS (2R01CA039617-05A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178808. Licensed CC0.

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