Abstract
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous oncogenic virus linked to malignancies and autoimmune diseases. No licensed vaccines are currently available. Recent advances in EBV biology have enabled rational antigen selection and accelerated development of multivalent vaccines using platforms such as mRNA and nanoparticles. This review outlines key mechanisms, vaccine targets, and platform innovations, and discusses major challenges and future directions for EBV vaccine development.
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This work was financially supported by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2023A1515140141), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82100195) and Institutional Cultivation Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 2025GP004).
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Hong, L., Zhou, J., Tan, J. et al. Recent advances in Epstein–Barr virus vaccines development from mechanistic exploration to clinical translation. npj Vaccines (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-026-01486-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-026-01486-w
