Researchers used a tonsil organoid model to identify distinct germinal center B cell states that emerge during primary Epstein–Barr virus infection, according to peer-reviewed findings released by PNAS.
The study tracks the cellular dynamics of Epstein–Barr virus within laboratory-grown tonsil tissue during the initial infection phase. By cultivating tonsil organoids, the experimental system models the biological environment where primary infection takes place, allowing direct observation of germinal center B cells as they respond to the pathogen.
PNAS issued the research on August 13, 2026, at 07:00 UTC. The investigation details the specific transitional states of infected B cells within the germinal center microenvironment, establishing an experimental record of early host-pathogen interactions in structured lymphoid tissue.
The findings document the viral infection process through the organoid system under digital object identifier 10.1073/pnas.2603586123. The peer-reviewed dataset maps how germinal center B cells behave from the onset of primary Epstein–Barr virus exposure within the modeled tonsil architecture.
