As the amount of BZLF1 mRNA detected is equivalent to that from less than 0.5% of cells entering the lytic cycle, it is possible that Notch-2 activation may be upregulating Zeb2 expression in a relevant subset of cells able to transcribe BZLF1; alternatively, Notch-2 activation may be acting via a different mechanism in primary infection of normal B cells. This evidence concerns the gene NOTCH2 and infection.