Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human gamma herpes virus that is best known for being the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis in man. A fascinating feature of this virus is its ability to persist in the host, and it is estimated that more than 95% of adults are carriers of the virus. Importantly, EBV can transform latently infected primary cells from healthy individuals into cancerous ones, thereby causing important human cancers such as B-cell neoplasms (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma and Post-transplant lymphomas), certain forms of T-cell lymphoma, and some epithelial tumors (e.g. gastric carcinomas). Understanding viral latency, what triggers viral reactivation and the mechanism of transformation of normal host cells into malignant cells are critical for the development of strategies for the prevention and control of this intriguing virus and related cancers. In this book, expert EBV virologists comprehensively review this important subject from a genetic, biochemical, immunological, and cell biological perspective. Topics include: latent infections, EBV leader protein, EBNA-1 in viral DNA replication and persistence, EBNA-2 in transcription activation of viral and cellular genes, the nuclear antigen family 3 in regulation of cellular processes, molecular profiles of EBV latently infected cells, latent membrane protein 1 oncoprotein, regulation of latency by LMP2A, role of noncoding RNAs in EBV-induced cell growth and transformation, and the regulation of EBV latency by viral lytic proteins. This book is essential reading for all EBV virologists, as well as clinical and basic scientists working on oncogenic viruses.

The acknowledgment that viruses are potent biological factors in driving many cancers have seen a dramatic upsurge in recent years in large part to the success of the human papilloma virus vaccine against invasive cervical carcinomas and followed by the awarding of the noble prize in medicine in 2008 to Dr. Harald zurHausen who identified the link between papilloma virus and cervical cancers. Over the last few years there have been some volumes addressing different aspects of viruses and cancers and to some extent focusing on the DNA viruses, more specifically the human DNA viruses. This proposed volume will attempt to review and address the major gaps in current knowledge in DNA viruses as well as RNA viruses bringing a historical perspective of where studies began to a more recent molecular approach and vaccine successes in tumor viruses. We will also cover other known oncogenic viruses associated cancers in other mammals in addition to humans.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human gamma herpes virus that remains one of the most successful viral parasites known to man. It is the etiological agent of infectious mononucleosis and is the major biological cofactor contributing to a number of human cancers including B-cell neoplasms (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and immunoblastic lymphomas), certain forms of T-cell lymphoma, and some epithelial tumors (e.g. nasopharyngeal carcinomas and gastric carcinomas). The virus has the unique ability to persist in the infected, apparently healthy host for life. Understanding the molecular interaction between EBV and its human host, the ability of the virus to modulate the host immune system, its ability to hide in B-memory cells and factors that trigger viral reactivation are fundamental to understanding the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of the virus. This is critical for the development of strategies for the prevention and control of infection and disease. In this book, world renowned EBV experts provide a critical and comprehensive review of every aspect of this important virus. By integrating genetic, immunologic, and cell biologic approaches to elucidate pathogenesis, penetrating new insights into the molecular and cellular interaction between EBV and its human host have emerged. Topics covered include: discovery, history and seroepidemiology, EBV and the immune response, EBV genetics, EBV infection and persistence, latency, lytic proteins and reactivation control, vaccine approaches, animal models, and the future of EBV studies. This is essential reading for all EBV virologists as well as clinical and research scientists working on oncogenic viruses.

The study of Burkitt's lymphoma is now in its 6 decade beginning with its discovery by Dr. Dennis Burkitt in equatorial Africa in the mid to late 1950's. A large body of information is available which provides a current understanding of the underlying molecular changes that are linked to the initiation and development of Burkitt's lymphoma. This proposed volume will provide a comprehensive view of Burkitt's Lymphoma from the diagnosis to potential animal models for this disease and include a view from physicians who have a up close view of the patients in populations where the disease is rampant. We expect that this will be an excellent resource for Medical students and faculty as well as educated laypersons who have a person interest in the disease.

This book ventures into a new and exciting area of discovery that directly ties our current knowledge of cancer to the discovery of microorganisms associated with different types of cancers. Recent studies demonstrate that microorganisms are directly linked to the establishment of cancers and that they can also contribute to the initiation, as well as persistence of, the cancers. Microbiome and Cancer covers the current knowledge of microbiome and its association with human cancers. It provides important reading for novices, senior undergraduates in cancer and microbiology, graduate students, junior investigators, residents, fellows and established investigators in the fields of cancer and microbiology. We cover areas related to known, broad concepts in microbiology and how they can relate to the ongoing discoveries of the micro-environment and the changes in the metabolic and physiologic states in that micro-environment, which are important for the ongoing nurturing and survival of the poly-microbial content that dictates activities in that micro-environment. We cover the interactions of microorganisms associated with gastric carcinomas, which are important for driving this particular cancer. Additional areas include oral cancers, skin cancers, ovarian cancers, breast cancers, nasopharyngeal cancers, lung cancers, mesotheliomas, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, glioblastoma multiforme, hepatocellular carcinomas, as well as the inflammatory response related to the infectious agents in cancers. This book covers the metabolic changes that occur because of infection and their support for development of cancers, chronic infection and development of therapeutic strategies for detection and control of the infection. The field of microbiome research has exploded over the last five years, and we are now understanding more and more about the context in which microorganisms can contribute to the onset of cancers in humans. The field of microbiome research has demonstrated that the human body has specific biomes for tissues and that changes in these biomes at the specific organ sites can result in disease. These changes can result in dramatic differences in metabolic shifts that, together with genetic mutations, will produce the perfect niche for establishment of the particular infection programmes in that organ site. We are just beginning to understand what those changes are and how they influence the disease state. Overall, we hope to bring together the varying degrees of fluctuations in the microbiome at the major organ sites and how these changes affect the normal cellular processes because of dysregulation, leading to proliferation of the associated tissues.

The study of Burkitt's lymphoma is now in its 6 decade beginning with its discovery by Dr. Dennis Burkitt in equatorial Africa in the mid to late 1950's. A large body of information is available which provides a current understanding of the underlying molecular changes that are linked to the initiation and development of Burkitt's lymphoma. This proposed volume will provide a comprehensive view of Burkitt's Lymphoma from the diagnosis to potential animal models for this disease and include a view from physicians who have a up close view of the patients in populations where the disease is rampant. We expect that this will be an excellent resource for Medical students and faculty as well as educated laypersons who have a person interest in the disease.

The acknowledgment that viruses are potent biological factors in driving many cancers have seen a dramatic upsurge in recent years in large part to the success of the human papilloma virus vaccine against invasive cervical carcinomas and followed by the awarding of the noble prize in medicine in 2008 to Dr. Harald zurHausen who identified the link between papilloma virus and cervical cancers. Over the last few years there have been some volumes addressing different aspects of viruses and cancers and to some extent focusing on the DNA viruses, more specifically the human DNA viruses. This proposed volume will attempt to review and address the major gaps in current knowledge in DNA viruses as well as RNA viruses bringing a historical perspective of where studies began to a more recent molecular approach and vaccine successes in tumor viruses. We will also cover other known oncogenic viruses associated cancers in other mammals in addition to humans.