Molecular Cloning and Expression of Epstein-Barr Virus Antigens in the Lambda gt11 Expression Vector: Antibodies towards Proteins from the BORF2 and BKRF4 Reading Frames in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

An easy way to clone and screen for Epstein-Barr virus antigens significant in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been developed. Two proteins cloned and expressed as fusion proteins in lambda gt11 have been identified to be expressed from 661 bp of the BORF2 and from 500 bp of the BNKRF4 reading frames. Western blotting studies on these proteins using serum from 16 NPC and 16 normal healthy individuals showed that 15 NPC patients have either IgG or IgA antibodies towards either protein whereas only 2 normal individuals were positive. Hence, IgG and IgA antibodies towards these antigens are of diagnostic value for NPC.