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Science Weekly

The virus that infects almost everyone, and its link to cancer and MS

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.21K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2024

⏱️ 16 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On 28 March it’s the 60th anniversary of the discovery of Epstein-Barr virus, the most common viral infection in humans. The virus was first discovered in association with a rare type of cancer located in Africa, but is now understood to be implicated in 1% of cancers, as well as the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis, among others. Ian Sample meets Lawrence Young, professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical School, to hear the story of this virus, and how understanding it might help us prevent and treat cancer and other illnesses.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is the Guardian.

0:02.0

In Norway, a woman's boyfriend forgets who she is overnight. In Detroit a man is arrested but he was never at the crime scene.

0:16.0

In Spain disturbing pictures of young girls have appeared and no one knows who is behind them.

0:22.0

Something strange is happening.

0:24.0

A collision between people and artificial intelligence.

0:28.0

Discover more in the Guardian's new series Black Box.

0:32.0

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. All episodes out now.

0:37.0

Today marks the 60th anniversary of a medical breakthrough, the discovery of Epstein-Bar virus.

0:47.0

And though you might not know the name, the chances are it's living inside you.

0:52.0

So Epstein-Bar virus is a remarkable virus.

0:54.0

It's the most common infection in humans of any virus.

0:58.0

And when we get infected, it lives in our bodies silently for the rest of our lives.

1:02.0

It's spread through saliva, so a mother kissing

1:04.8

her baby or a couple of friends sharing a drink and it's thought that up to 96% of

1:10.6

us have it but its effects can vary depending, for example, on when you catch it.

1:16.0

Most people get infected as babies and as youngsters and have no ill effects whatsoever, they don't even know they're infected. For those individuals that get

1:24.9

infected in early teenage life or early adulthood, around 50% of people will get a

1:30.4

condition called glandular fever. But here's what was really groundbreaking

1:34.6

about its discovery. For certain individuals, the virus can spark off cancer

1:39.3

or indeed is associated with other chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis.

1:44.0

Epstein-Barr was the first virus to be identified as a cause of cancer in humans.

1:49.0

Since then, other viruses like hepatitis C and H.P.

...

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