ebv and

the replication
dance
Z

R
 For all the children whose curosity knows no bounds, this is for you.

Page i
Meet the Scientist !
Hi! My name is Jaye Gardiner and I’m
currently a graduate student at UW-Madison
researching how HIV spreads from cell to cell.
I absolutely love science, teaching, and
mentoring (and in my free time, crafts!) and
my dream is to combine all of those things
together by being a professor with my own
lab some day. For now, I want to make these
comics so I can teach you all more about the
world around us!

Hello, my name is Khoa (pronounced, ‘kwa’)

Tran (pronounced, Tran) and I am a graduate
student at the University of Wisconsin where
I study stem cells and how they work . One of
my favorite hobbies is reading, especially
books that have interesting stories with
fascinating characters (like our comic!). If I
could be one animal, it would be a turtle
because I like to take things slow and enjoy
life.

Hi friends! I’m Kelly Montgomery, but you can

call me Kel. I am a graduate student at the
University of Wisconsin – Madison. I work
with some pretty cool people to learn how
we can use sponges that live in the ocean to
make potential new medicines. When I’m not
learning how sponges can be used to keep us
healthy, I like to play volleyball, make
cartoons, cheer for my favorite football team
(GO GREEN!), do a bit of blogging, and travel
to new exciting places!

Page ii
 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common human
viruses. People typically get EBV by exchanging saliva, for
instance through kissing or sharing drinks.

By adulthood, 90% of people have had an EBV infection.

Page 1
 Most people become infected with EBV during childhood;
although it rarely causes physical sickness.

OOL
SCH

In our body, EBV is found in organs and/or swims

through our bloodstream.

B cell

In these places, there are cells that EBV likes to hang

out. These are called B cells.

Isn’t all blood red? Not without oxygen! Page 2

 Inquisitive Interlude
What in the world is a B cell?

A type of blood cell that...

Defends against microscopic
invaders by using special
proteins on its surface

X X
X X

X X

This keeps our bodies healthy!

Page 3
Some B cells are in the spleen, while others are
between the layers of skin in our gums or near the
surface of the tongue.

Page 4
 EBV spends most of its life
sitting quietly in a B cell, never
bothering anybody.

It simply minds its own

It simply minds
business, and its own busi-
never goes
ness, and never goes outside.
outside.

It can stay here for years, and nobody will ever see it.

Page 5
 ?

Z
R

Here, the virus will sometimes hear a signal. When the right conditions are met...

when the right signals are expressed in the B cell...

the virus gets in the mood to groove!

R
Z

R
Z

With the mood set, the virus wants to go out and see what
life is like inside a different kind of cell, the epithelial cell.

Page 6
 Inquisitive Interlude 2

What is an epithelial cell?

A type of cell that...

Lines the insides of
our organs creating a
protective barrier

Can you guess what the largest organ

in our body is?
(It‛s made up of epithelial cells)

Answer: It’s our skin!

Page 7
But it doesn’t want to go alone, so
it starts making copies of itself!

So EBV begins its replication cycle.

R
Z

R
Z

R
Z

Page 8
 Z

Z
Z
R

R
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Z
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Page 9
 Soon the B cell is full of virus.

Z
Z

R
R
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Z
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Z
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R
Z

So true, so true. Page 10

 ck s
d R a
Capsi
EXOCYTOSIS

Z
Z

R
R

Z
R

Z
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R
Z

R
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R
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Z
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The viral DNA (EBV) puts on its protein coat and exits
the B cell...

Page 11 Okay, EBV, now let’s get in formation!

 Z

Z
R
R

Z
Z

Z R
R
Z

R
Z

Z
R

Page 12
 ...headed straight toward the epithelial cell.

R
Z
Z
R

Rd
y

Z
Z

be
Ab

R
Z

Z
R R

Ln Z
tic
Ly R

R
Z
Z
R

Z
R

Club Epithelial EBV Night

Z

R
Z

R
Z

Z
R

R
Z

R
Z

R
R
Z

R R

Z
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Z
R
Z

Z
R

Z
R

Here, the virus gets the signal to keep on replicating! R

Page 13 Keep calm and replicate on.

Z
 Z

R
After hours of partying, the inside of the cell is
trashed. EBV has used up all of the cell‛s nutrients.

exiting club

Let‛s keep partying!

Z
R
R

Some viruses will move on

to other cells nearby...

That is biologically accurate.

...others, however, will find Carried by saliva in the mouth, the

their way out of town. virus will find its way to a new host.
Z

With plenty of uninfected epithelial

R R R

cells, the virus will continue to party.

Did she just spit on him? Gross. Page 14

 Capsid Racks

R
Z

But partying all day and night just

isn‛t EBV‛s personality.

It will find its way to where it really

wants to be...

...back in the B cell, sitting quietly,

minding its own business.

Page 15
 Research Corner
I learned a lot but I still have a question.
Could anyone help me?

Hi! My name’s Mark and I’m a graduate student that

researches Epstein Barr virus or EBV, the subject of today’s
comic! My friends and I can help you!

What’s your question?

Why does EBV have glow sticks in the library?

Do they mean something?

They represent two proteins, Z and R, from the virus

that are important for EBV’s replication (the process
of making multiple copies of the DNA genome).

Oh, okay! But what’s a protein?

Proteins are large molecules that do a lot of

work in the cell to keep it running.
Think of them like busy little machines.

Cool. So what do Z and R do?

Z and R make it possible for EBV to move from

its sleepy latent state, where it quietly reads in
the B cell library, to its party lytic state, where it
dances in the epithelial cell club.

And why is that important?

The virus’ ability to go from latent to lytic

states is important for viral transmission or
the spread of infection. So EBV will take its
glow sticks wherever it goes!

Awesome! Thanks!

Page 16
 1

3 4

6 7

10 11

12 13

14

ACROSS

5. When the virus is in a sleepy state and not actively replicating.

7. Home of Bucky the Badger.
8. Type of cell that EBV lies dormant in.
10. EBV is the abbreivation for:
12. A scientist who studies EBV.
13. Process of making multiple copies of the DNA genome.
14. The study of the natural world.

DOWN

1. Type of cell EBV invades when it is active.

2. Busy machines in the cell that keep the cell running.
3. The spread of virus from person to person.
4. Process that leads to active replication of the virus.
6. The use of experiments and observations to study science.
9. One way of spreading EBV can occur through:
11. Small infectious agent that can cause bodily harm to people/animals.

Page 17
 REFERENCES

To understand more about EBV, go to:

http://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-ebv.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein-Barr_virus

To learn more about B and

Epithelial Cells:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_cell
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/epithelial-cells

For more information on R and Z

proteins: R
http://tinyurl.com/EBV-R-and-Z Z

N C E S C I E H A
O U C V
I C A T I O N R E P L L M A R K I
S I L A L
S V I R U E P S T E I N B A R R
I C S S
M N L B C E L L
W I S C O N S I N C A R
N E I I
A L A T E N T L
R O Y E
T R L H
P T
I
P
E

Page 18
 Storyboard by:
Mark Eichelberg

Artwork by:
Jaye Gardiner
Kelly Montgomery
Khoa Tran

Page 19
The viral DNA (EBV) puts on its protein coat
and exits the B cell...

Racks
Capsid EXOCYTOSIS
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