Targeted delivery and pro-apoptotic efficacy of an Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1-specific affibody in EBV-infected cells in vitro.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) sustains viral latency and drives oncogenesis in EBV-driven malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas. The dimerization of EBNA1 acts as an indispensable molecular switch governing EBV latency and oncogenesis. Disruption of EBNA1 dimerization is a promising strategy, but existing small-molecule inhibitors lack sufficient specificity.