EBV primarily infects which type of cell after attaching to CD21?

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is primarily known for its ability to infect B cells after attaching to the CD21 receptor, which is expressed on the surface of mature B lymphocytes. CD21 serves as a receptor for the complement component C3d, and its interaction with EBV is crucial for the virus's entry into the B cells. Once inside, EBV can establish a latent infection, leading to various outcomes including B cell proliferation and the potential development of diseases such as infectious mononucleosis or lymphoproliferative disorders.

While T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells are all integral components of the immune system, they do not serve as primary targets for EBV infection in the same way that B cells do. T cells are typically involved in the immune response to viral infections but are not the main cell type that EBV infects initially. Macrophages play a role in presenting antigens but are not specifically targeted by EBV for infection. Dendritic cells help stimulate immune responses but also do not primarily serve as hosts for EBV.

Thus, the definitive answer regarding the primary cellular target of EBV infection is B cells, reflecting the virus's predilection for these immune cells and its role