Finding where the Kaposi sarcoma virus hides in the body
Project 3
This project searches whole-body tissues from people with HIV who are KSHV-positive to find hidden virus reservoirs that may cause Kaposi sarcoma to come back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11415854 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, the team will study donated bodies in sub-Saharan Africa to look for Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) across many organs. They will perform full-body autopsies and collect tissue samples from multiple sites, then use sensitive molecular tests and cell markers to find infected or transformed cells. The researchers will compare samples from people with and without HIV and from those who had or did not have Kaposi sarcoma to see how HIV affects these reservoirs. The results will map where KSHV persists and help explain why Kaposi sarcoma can recur after treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants (donors) are adults living in sub-Saharan Africa who are KSHV-positive and often living with HIV, including people with a history of Kaposi sarcoma and those without it.
Not a fit: People who are KSHV-negative, children, and patients seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly since the work uses postmortem tissue to map reservoirs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal the body sites that hide KSHV and guide new tests or targeted treatments to prevent Kaposi sarcoma recurrence.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have detected KSHV in specific tissues (for example, brain), but comprehensive whole-body autopsy mapping of KSHV reservoirs is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Lsu Health Sciences Center — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tso, for Yue — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Tso, for Yue
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.