miRNA levels and Ago2-association in AGS cells latently and lytically infected with Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects most people worldwide, contributing to the development of multiple sclerosis and several types of cancer, including gastric and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. While miRNAs are important regulators of viral and cellular gene expression, there is little known about how cellular and EBV miRNAs contribute to and regulate EBV lytic infection. Here we profile changes in miRNAs that occur upon reactivation of EBV from latent to lytic infection, and identify cellular and viral miRNA changes. Our study provides new insights into how cellular miRNAs can be used to promote EBV infection and a new role for an EBV protein in dysregulating cellular miRNA expression.