IIT-Indore's team analyses effects of cancer-causing virus on brain cells

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore's research team has identified how Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) affects brain cells and could lead to neurological disorders.

A research team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore utilized Raman microspectroscopy technique to explore the possible impacts of a cancer-causing virus on brain cells and found that it drives various changes in biomolecules such as fatty acids, carbohydrates, and protein components, leading to diseases of the central nervous system as well as brain cancer, as reported by India Today.

The Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes virus family and it is one of the most commonly found viruses. It spreads most commonly through bodily fluids, primarily saliva. While it usually does not cause any harm, the virus gets reactivated inside the body in some unusual conditions like immunological stress or immunocompetence. Scientists are yet to understand how this virus affects the cells of the brain and manipulates them.

“The research work aids in the understanding of EBV-mediated biomolecular changes in the various compartments of the central nervous system leading to a better understanding of nervous system diseases,” said Dr Hem Chandra Jha, group leader from the Infection Bioengineering group at IIT Indore, said in a statement.

Epstein Barr virus is associated with various cancers

The Epstein Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with various types of cancers as well as neurodegenerative diseases. However, EBV-mediated neurological ailments are yet underexplored in terms of biomolecular changes in neuronal and glial cells (astrocytes and microglia), stated the abstract published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

The researchers found that the lipid, cholesterol, proline, and glucose molecules increased in the cells under the viral influence. These biomolecular entities could ultimately play pivotal roles in the viral usurpation of cells.

IIT Indore's team said that the study is helpful in establishing the advantages of Raman micro-spectroscopy, a cost-effective and non-invasive technique, in carrying out studies on virus-associated cellular complications in clinical settings. It could provide an upper hand in analysing clinical samples in comparison to other techniques, which require advanced setups for studying the virus-associated changes in cells, tissues, and organs.

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