mononucleosis
... that are in the herpesvirus family. It is an extremely common human virus that has infected about 95% of United States adults by the time they are 40. Virus diseases are controlled by the human bodies immune system. Viruses are one form of antigen. Antigens enter the body. Some of the antigens are taken up by macrophages and presented to helper T cells. The helper T cells bind the antigen. The helper T cells are activated to divide and secrete interleukins. The interleukins activate killer T cells that have already bond antigen attached to class I MHC molecules on infected cells. These killer T cells then can kill any cells showing antigen-attached class I MHC cells. This essentially eliminates all cells infected with the antigen. The Epstein Barr Virus has an incubation period of 30 to 50 days. Most people that are ex...