Relating homology between the Epstein-Barr virus BOLF1 molecule and HLA-DQw8 β chain to recent onset Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus
A role for the Epstein-Barr virus in initiating Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus has been proposed since Epstein-Barr virus BOLF1(497-513) AVTPL RIFIVP PAAEY has an 11 amino acid identity with HLA-DQw8 β (49-60) AVTPL GPPAAEY. Rabbit antisera to the BOLF1 (496-515) peptide crossreacted with the homologous DQw8 β (44-63) peptide but not with the related DQw7 β(44-63) peptide, which diff