R. Kobayashi^1,2, Y. Itoh¹ and K. Hirai^2
1 Department of Forensic Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
² Department of Cell Regulation, Division of Virology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

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Epstein-Barr (EB) virus is known to be carried for life as a persistent and largely asymptomatic infection in humans. EB virus is also known to have polymorphisms in short tandem repeat sequences among EB virus variants. We chose this virus to study DNA markers acquired in persons after their birth (acquired DNA marker). Using PCR, we detected EB virus DNA in 92% of Japanese DNA samples isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes to amplify the BamW region of the EB virus. In non-neoplastic tonsils removed from the patients with tonsillitis, we also observed EB virus by in situ hybridization that detected the EBER1 RNA transcript. To detect polymorphisms of EB virus, we selected five regions of short tandem repeat sequences of the virus and synthesized primers and probes. Using PCR and Southern blot techniques to detect these regions, we found virus DNA polymorphisms in DNA samples of each individual. Furthermore, we used EB virus DNA as a DNA marker and could distinguish between identical twins with exactly the same DNA. In contrast to DNA markers usually used in the forensic field, the EB virus is acquired and easily identified from the host DNA. The polymorphisms of this virus allow us to study acquired DNA markers for application to personal identification.