FIGURE 3.

Determination of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) genome copy number in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from dengue patients. Plasmid containing BamHI W region of EBV genome (A) or total DNA from Namalwa cells (B) served as reference standards in qPCR. Detection limits were given in exact numbers and marked by black dashed lines. Calculation equations were given on top of each chart. (C) Absolute EBV genome copy numbers in the PBMCs collected during the acute phase of dengue infection (the black column) or at the time of disease resolution or recovery (the white column) were determined by qPCR, as elaborated in section “Materials and Methods.” Cases 1–6 were in the non-elderly group, and cases 7–11 were in the elderly group. Healthy control (the gray column) was an average of EBV genome level in PBMCs collected from five individuals aged between 23 and 27 years. The statistical analysis of the EBV genome load in samples collected at the time of disease onset vs. that in samples collected at the time of recovery was shown in panel D, p = 0.0416.