Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2016 19;3(7):000493. Epub 2016 Sep 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.

Introduction: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disorder first described in 1872 by Moritz Kaposi. Four main clinical presentations of KS have been described: classic, endemic, iatrogenic and epidemic. KS involvement of the lymph nodes is extremely uncommon in the classical variant form, especially if it precedes the skin manifestations. Read More

JAMA Oncol 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Importance: Patients with HIV infection are at increased risk for cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death among non-AIDS-defining illnesses in these patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has transformed the treatment of cancer. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2019 Feb 4;15(2):e1007536. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Extracellular signaling is a mechanism that higher eukaryotes have evolved to facilitate organismal homeostasis. Recent years have seen an emerging interest in the role of secreted microvesicles, termed extracellular vesicles (EV) or exosomes in this signaling network. EV contents can be modified by the cell in response to stimuli, allowing them to relay information to neighboring cells, influencing their physiology. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2019 5;8(2):e1546544. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Most chronic viruses evade T-cell and natural killer (NK) immunity through downregulation of immune surface markers. Previously we showed that Pomalidomide (Pom) increases surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) in Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-infected latent and lytic cells and restores ICAM-1 and B7-2 in latent cells. We explored the ability of Pom to increase immune surface marker expression in cells infected by other chronic viruses, including human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCV), and human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2019 Feb;94(2):370

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Br J Haematol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Division of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.

Improvement of survival in lymphocytic leukaemia has been accompanied by the occurrence of second primary cancer (SPCs). Based on Swedish Family Cancer Database, we applied bi-directional analyses in which relative risks (RRs) were calculated for any SPCs in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) and the risks of these leukaemias as SPCs. After CLL, RRs were significant for 20 SPCs, and high for skin squamous cell cancer (24·58 for in situ and 7·63 for invasive), Merkel cell carcinoma (14·36), Hodgkin lymphoma (7·16) and Kaposi sarcoma (6·76). Read More

Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019 Jan 31;5(1). Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Leidos Biomedical Research, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) gained public attention as an AIDS-defining malignancy; its appearance on the skin was a highly stigmatizing sign of HIV infection during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The widespread introduction of effective antiretrovirals to control HIV by restoring immunocompetence reduced the prevalence of AIDS-related KS, although KS does occur in individuals with well-controlled HIV infection. KS also presents in individuals without HIV infection in older men (classic KS), in sub-Saharan Africa (endemic KS) and in transplant recipients (iatrogenic KS). Read More

Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019 Jan 31;5(1):10. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Clin Exp Dermatol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Unit of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

We read with great interest the recent article by Wang et al. reporting on a psoriatic patient co-affected by HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), whose poorly controlled psoriasis was successfully treated with ustekinumab, a fully monoclonal antibody that targets the common p40 subunit shared by interleukins (IL)-12 and IL-23. Interestingly, despite the evidences supporting the role of IL-12 in inhibiting tumorigenesis, the authors reported no KS progression after a 16-month follow-up. Read More

Eur J Dent Educ 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

School of Dentistry.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the knowledge of the students of dental students regarding patients care towards HIV positive individuals.

Methods: 283 dental students (pre-clinical, n = 45; clinical, n = 238) answered an electronic questionnaire, approaching biosafety procedures, oral manifestations of AIDS, and knowledge of HIV infection. Data were present as an average from findings from students of 9 different semesters, grouping them by pre-clinical (1-4) and clinical (5-9) semesters, from two different university campuses. Read More

Mol Clin Oncol 2019 Feb 11;10(2):318-320. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi 420-767, Republic of Korea.

Multicentric Castleman's disease and Kaposi's sarcoma are more frequently observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients; however, 40-50% of the cases are HIV-negative. The present study reports the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with palpable masses in the axillary and right inguinal areas. The blood test results revealed increased serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level, with negative serological markers, including for HIV. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2018 Dec 15;24(12). Epub 2018 Dec 15.

The Ronald O. Perleman Department of Dermatology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular neoplasm that is one of the most common human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related malignancies. We present the case of a 42-year-old man with a new diagnosis of HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related epidemic KS. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 Jan 8;17(1):27-34. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.

The present study investigated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and proteins involved in its associated signaling pathways in patients with classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS (AIDS-KS) in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. A total of 35 patients with KS were enrolled in the present study between May 2011 and July 2013, including 26 cases of AIDS-KS and 9 cases of classic KS. Another 10 healthy subjects of the Uygur ethnic group were included in the normal control group. Read More

FEMS Microbiol Rev 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Human γ-herpesviruses include the closely related tumor viruses Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). EBV is the most growth transforming pathogen known and linked to at least seven human malignancies. KSHV is also associated with three human cancers. Read More

Malawi Med J 2018 09;30(3):162-166

Partners In Health, Neno, Malawi.

Introduction: Limited data exists on histologically confirmed cancers and tuberculosis in rural Malawi, despite the high burden of both conditions. One of the main reasons for the limited data is the lack of access to pathology services for diagnosis. We reviewed histopathology results of patients in Neno District, one of the poorest rural districts in Malawi, from May 2011 to July 2017, with an emphasis on cancers and tuberculosis. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 18;9:3119. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic gamma-herpesvirus that causes AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and several lymphoproliferative disorders. During the humoral immune response antigen-activated mature B cells acquire functional diversification by immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) class-switch recombination (CSR). CSR is initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) which targets highly repetitive switch (S)-regions to mediate DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in the IgH locus facilitating intramolecular recombination. Read More

Int J Cancer 2019 Jan 6. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano (PN), Italy.

Curr Oncol 2018 Dec 1;25(6):e592-e596. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC.

Primary effusion lymphoma (pel) is a rare human herpesvirus 8 (hhv8)-related large B cell lymphoma with plasmablastic, immunoblastic, or anaplastic features that often carries a poor prognosis. This lymphoma occurs mainly in patients with hiv infection, most often with Epstein-Barr virus (ebv) co-infection, and usually presents as body cavity effusions or, less commonly, as extracavitary lesions without effusion (ec-pel). Chemotherapeutic treatment options are limited and require concurrent antiretroviral therapy (art). Read More

Yakugaku Zasshi 2019 ;139(1):69-73

Department of Cell Biology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and Castleman's disease. While liposomal doxorubicin has been used as an effective treatment for KS patients, the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) regimen used for PEL patients was reported to have 1-year survival rates of less than 40%. Moreover, the development of anti-KSHV drugs inhibiting viral replication has been delayed. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2019 Jan 2. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago.

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College.

Objective: We aimed to establish the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated malignancies in children attending a care and treatment clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based study of children who attended an HIV care and treatment clinic between 2006 and 2014. Children aged 2 months to 17 years were eligible for participation. Read More

Blood Adv 2018 Dec;2(24):3618-3626

Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA.

HIV-associated lymphomas (HALs) have high rates of latent infection by gammaherpesviruses (GHVs). We hypothesized that proteasome inhibition would induce lytic activation of GHVs and inhibit HIV infectivity via preservation of cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G, improving lymphoma control. We tested this oncolytic and antiviral strategy by using bortezomib combined with ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) alone or with rituximab (ICE/R) in relapsed/refractory HAL. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2018 12 17;14(12):e1007441. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

KSHV is endemic in Uganda and the HIV epidemic has dramatically increased the incidence of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). To investigate the role of KSHV in the development of KS, we obtained KS biopsies from ART-naïve, HIV-positive individuals in Uganda and analyzed the tumors using RNAseq to globally characterize the KSHV transcriptome. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF75 sequences from 23 tumors revealed 6 distinct genetic clusters with KSHV strains exhibiting M, N or P alleles. Read More

Am J Cancer Res 2018 1;8(11):2176-2184. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center 1700 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the etiological agent of cervical cancer and some other cancers. Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) represents a principal causative agent of several human cancers arising in those immunocompromised patients. In fact, KSHV DNA has been detected in the female genital tract, and this virus may share some transmission routes with HPV, although the detection rate of KSHV in cervical samples is very low and the KSHV/HPV co-infection is seldom reported. Read More

Infect Agent Cancer 2018 11;13:39. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

1Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, 2 Alameda San Marcos Avenue, Chorrillos, 15067 Lima, Peru.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a neoplasm associated with a group of malignancies called AIDs-Defining Malignancies (ADMs) in Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) -patients. Similar to the case of NHL in Latin America, particularly in Peru, the amount of research done on others ADMs is limited, especially in the case of Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS). Prior investigations have talked about the great potential risk that represents this illness in latin american population, but topics as prognosis factors are yet to be well defined. Read More

Head Neck 2019 Feb 15;41(2):E21-E25. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, University of Sao Paulo School of Dentistry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasia in human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) patients for which the primary mode of management was chemotherapy.

Methods: We have presented the case of a newly diagnosed HIV+ male patient who was diagnosed with a pedunculated nodule in the anterior region of the hard palate, measuring 3.5 cm in diameter and with 2 months of evolution. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Dec;32(24):1910-1911

External auditory canal HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma is rare. A 47-year-old male patient found a lump locked in the right external auditory canal gradually enlarging during the 4 months. Preoperative examination suggested that the patient had infected with HIV. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2018 12;16(12):1418-1419

Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France.

Cancer Treat Res 2019 ;177:1-21

Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Malignancies were one of the earliest recognized manifestations that led to the description of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The majority of cancers in AIDS patients are associated with coinfection with oncogenic viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 8, and human papillomavirus, with resulting malignancies occurring secondary to diminished immune surveillance against viruses and virus-infected tumor cells. Over 50% of AIDS lymphomas are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and/or HHV8 infection. Read More

Blood 2018 Dec;132(23):2525

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Int J Cancer 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

African Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Gulu Cancer Registry was established in 2014 to assess the incidence and survival of cancer in 4 districts of the Acholi Sub-region of northern Uganda. Here we report the results of the first 4 years of registration (2013-2016) in this largely rural population of 771,514. In total there were 1627 cases of cancers registered; 644 among men (corresponding to an ASR of 106. Read More

Semin Liver Dis 2019 Feb 7;39(1):1-12. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Radiology, BCLC Group, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia-Spain.

Hepatic angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) might be clinically considered a spectrum since, although more frequently presenting indolent behavior, EHE occasionally evolves to high-grade neoplasms. However, in most circumstances, pathological and immunohistochemical patterns define this differential diagnosis. More recently, molecular pathways for angiosarcoma and for EHE from other organs and from soft tissue have been proved different, paving the way for future morpho-molecular assessment of their hepatic counterpart. Read More

Indian J Gastroenterol 2018 Nov;37(6):567-568

Division of Gastroenterology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA.

Oncotarget 2018 11 9;9(88):35856-35869. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.

Background: We previously reported Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) microRNA sequence variants in clinical samples correlated with increased risk of multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). We then demonstrated that microRNAs with variant sequence have different maturation and mature microRNA expression . Here, we illustrate the association between microRNA sequence and changes in mature microRNA levels within Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lesions. Read More

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019 Mar;80(3):301-307

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Hematological malignancies have continued to be highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study assessed the occurrence of, risk factors for, and outcomes of hematological and nonhematological malignancies in PLHIV in Asia.

Methods: Incidence of malignancy after cohort enrollment was evaluated. Read More

Acta Med Port 2018 Nov 30;31(11):697. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Dermatology. Santa Maria University Hospital. Lisbon. Institute for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Universidade NOVA. Lisbon. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.

J Cancer 2018 31;9(23):4503-4509. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Pediatrics, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China.

Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of several human malignancies, particularly Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS), which preferentially arise in immunocompromised patients such as HIV+ subpopulation while still lacking of effective therapeutic options. We recently found that the ribonucleotide reductase (RR) subunit M2 is potentially regulated by the key oncogenic HGF/c-MET pathway in KSHV-related lymphoma cells. One of RR inhibitor, 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP) effectively induced apoptosis of KSHV+ lymphomas and suppressed tumor progression . Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2018 Dec 3;143(24):1755-1758. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Klinische Arbeitsgemeinschaft AIDS Deutschland (KAAD), Sektion der Deutschen AIDS-Gesellschaft (DAIG).

Guidelines from 3 clinical societies and peer-reviewed publications have been reviewed for recent changes in the management of opportunistic infections. Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazol administered intravenously is an option to treat cerebral toxoplasmosis if oral therapy is not feasible. CD4 T cell cut-off for starting prophylaxis with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole is now 200/µl. Read More

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2019 Feb 3;17(2):192-194. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Center for Clinical Studies, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

In 1964, the first human oncovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), was identified in Burkitt lymphoma cells. Since then, six other human oncoviruses have been identified: human papillomavirus (HPV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). These viruses are causally linked to 12% of all cancers, many of which have mucocutaneous manifestations. Read More

Nanomedicine (Lond) 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Genetics & Morphology Department, Institute of Biological Science, University of Brasilia, Brasília DF 70910-900, Brazil.

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2019 Feb;33(1):87-101

Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cutaneous Oncology Program, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Electronic address:

Cutaneous sarcomas are rare malignancies that may present with a variety of clinical manifestations. This article focuses on 4 of the most common cutaneous sarcomas (Kaposi sarcoma, cutaneous angiosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and cutaneous leiomyosarcoma) and reviews clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of these rare skin malignancies. Read More

Case Rep Oncol 2018 Sep-Dec;11(3):638-647. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Internship in Medicine, Fundacion Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá, Colombia.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in HIV patients secondary to coinfection by HHV8 and development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare complication even if no skin lesions are detected on physical examination. This article indicates which patients might develop this type of clinical sign and also tries to recall that absence of skin lesions never rules out the presence of KS, especially if gastrointestinal involvement is documented. Gastrointestinal bleeding in terms of hematemesis has rarely been reported in the literature. Read More

Wounds 2018 Nov;30(11):E105-E107

College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Acroangiodermatitis, also known as psesudo-Kapsoi sarcoma, is a rare and benign angioproliferative malady. It presents clinically as purple-colored plaques, patches, or nodules resembling Kaposi sarcoma and is often related to chronic venous insufficiency, arteriovenous malformation of the legs, paralyzed limbs, and residual limbs. Obesity is a risk factor for venous insufficiency and could be related to acroangiodermatitis. Read More

Infect Agent Cancer 2018 9;13:33. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Background: Endemic Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was first described in African children over fifty years ago, but has recently been overshadowed by HIV-related disease. We aimed to evaluate the similarities and differences between endemic HIV-negative and epidemic HIV-positive pediatric KS in a KS-associated herpesvirus-endemic region of Africa.

Methods: We describe clinical characteristics of 20 HIV-negative children with endemic KS over a six-year period and compare findings with a historical control-an HIV-related pediatric KS cohort from Lilongwe, Malawi. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 12 19;115(50):12805-12810. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;

Noncoding RNAs have substantial effects in host-virus interactions. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel single-stranded noncoding RNAs which can decoy other RNAs or RNA-binding proteins to inhibit their functions. The role of circRNAs is largely unknown in the context of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV). Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Nov 17. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States.

Background: With antiretroviral therapy (ART), AIDS-defining cancer incidence has declined and non-AIDS defining cancers are now more frequent among HIV-infected populations in high-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, limited epidemiological data describe cancer burden among ART users.

Methods: We used probabilistic algorithms to link cases from the population-based cancer registry with electronic medical records supporting ART delivery in the Malawi's two largest HIV cohorts, Lighthouse Trust (LT; 2007-2010) and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH; 2000-2010). Read More

PLoS One 2018 16;13(11):e0205632. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

Macaque RFHV and LCV are close homologs of human KSHV and EBV, respectively. No experimental model of RFHV has been developed due to the lack of a source of culturable infectious virus. Screening of macaques at the Washington National Primate Research Center detected RFHV in saliva of SIV-infected macaques from previous vaccine studies. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 11 14;115(48):E11379-E11387. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a B cell lymphoma that is always associated with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and in many cases also with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); however, the requirement for EBV coinfection is not clear. Here, we demonstrate that adding exogenous EBV to KSHV single-positive PEL leads to increased KSHV genome maintenance and KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) expression. To show that EBV was necessary for naturally coinfected PEL, we nucleofected KSHV/EBV PEL cell lines with an EBV-specific CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid to delete EBV and observed a dramatic decrease in cell viability, KSHV genome copy number, and LANA expression. Read More