What describes the primary humoral immune response to Epstein-Barr virus infection?

The primary humoral immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is characterized by the development of atypical lymphocytes. When a person is infected with EBV, which is known to cause infectious mononucleosis, there is a notable proliferation of T-cells and B-cells in response to the virus. The atypical lymphocytes observed during this phase are primarily activated T-cells, which often display an enlarged morphology, indicative of their activation in response to the viral infection.

The B-cell response is also significant during EBV infection, as these cells are activated to produce antibodies against the virus; however, the dramatic characteristic of the immune response is the presence of these atypical lymphocytes. They are a hallmark finding in laboratory tests associated with EBV infections, particularly in the context of infectious mononucleosis, contributing to the overall picture of the immune response.

Other aspects of the immune response, such as the activation of B-cells or the stimulation of macrophages, while important, do not define the primary humoral response in the same way that the presence of atypical lymphocytes does. Immune complex formation can occur as a result of the humoral response but is not a defining feature of the primary response itself