Question

Which of the following is an oncogenic virus
A. Human immunodeficiency virus type 2
B. Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus
C. Human herpesvirus
D. Epstein-Barr virus

Answer 1

Hint: Virus are microscopic organisms which cannot be seen with the naked eye. The average diameter of the virus ranges from 20 nanometers to 250-400 nanometers. Oncogenic viruses are also called oncoviruses. These viruses cause cancer.

Complete answer:
Cancer viruses consist of RNA or DNA genome that cause cancer. It is synonymous with cancer virus or tumor virus. Oncogenic viruses cause cancer in organisms. They can be further classified into two groups depending upon their genetic material. They are DNA viruses and RNA viruses. The oncogenes present in the body can be activated by different molecular mechanisms. Human tumors that are most frequently associated with viruses are nasopharyngeal carcinoma, hepatocellular and cervix cancer, Burkitt’s and Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and some types of leukemia. Human gammaherpesvirus 4 which is also called Epstein-Barr virus is the most common oncogenic virus found in human beings. These viruses infect the B cell lymphocytes of the body and lead to the cause of cancer named Burkitt lymphoma. It is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system which mainly affects the B cell lymphocytes of the body. Thus, Epstein-Barr virus is an oncovirus that causes Burkitt’s lymphoma cancer. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
So, option D is the correct option.

Note: The DNA virus called Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes transformation in cells. The Epstein-Barr virus is a type of DNA virus that causes four types of cancer. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease are caused by Epstein-Barr oncogenic virus. Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 is not an oncogenic virus but an HIV virus. This virus does not cause cancer.