Scientists reveal how a common virus triggers blood cancer

Scientists at the University of Sussex, trying to uncover how the common Epstein-Barr virus causes blood cancer in adults and children, have discovered how the virus takes control of two genes involved in cancer development so it can switch them on or off. The research team led by Professor Michelle West, set out to determine how the virus controls two genes; MYC, a gene known to drive cancer development when it is altered or switched on at high level and BCL2L11, a gene which normally triggers cell death to prevent cancer, but can be turned off by the virus. With thanks to funding from the charity Bloodwise, the scientists discovered that the virus controls the MYC and BCL2L11 genes by hijacking ‘enhancer’ DNA regions which are situated far away from the genes. These enhancers act as ‘control centres’ and are able to contact and control genes from long distances by the looping...