EPHA2 and Epstein-Barr virus infection: It was further revealed that the overexpression of EphA2 promotes EBV infection in epithelial cells, while knocking out EphA2, or pretreatment with the soluble EphA2 protein, EphA2-blocking antibody, or EphA1 (natural ligand of EphA2), could significantly reduce epithelial cell infection.