Data from: Examining the dynamics of Epstein-Barr virus shedding in the tonsils and the impact of HIV-1 coinfection on daily saliva viral loads

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is transmitted by saliva and is a major cause of
cancer, particularly in people living with HIV/AIDS. Here, we describe the
frequency and quantity of EBV detection in the saliva of Ugandan adults
with and without HIV-1 infection and use these data to develop a novel
mathematical model of EBV infection in the tonsils. Eligible cohort
participants were not taking antiviral medications, and those with HIV-1
infection had a CD4 count >200 cells/mm^3. Over a 4-week period,
participants provided daily oral swabs that we analysed for the presence
and quantity of EBV. Compared with HIV-1 uninfected participants, HIV-1
coinfected participants had an increased risk of EBV detection in their
saliva (IRR=1.27, 95% CI=1.10-1.47) and higher viral loads in positive
samples. We used these data to develop a stochastic, mechanistic
mathematical model that describes the dynamics of EBV, infected cells, and
immune response within the tonsillar epithelium to analyse potential
factors that may cause EBV infection to be more severe in HIV-1 coinfected
participants. The model, fit using Approximate Bayesian Computation,
showed high fidelity to daily oral shedding data and matched key summary
statistics. When evaluating how model parameters differed among
participants with and without HIV-1 coinfection, results suggest HIV-1
coinfected individuals have higher rates of B cell reactivation, which can
seed new infection in the tonsils and lower rates of an EBV-specific
immune response. Subsequently, both these traits may explain higher and
more frequent EBV detection in the saliva of HIV-1 coinfected individuals.