Finding where the Kaposi sarcoma virus hides in the body
Project 3
This project looks for hidden places in the body where the virus that causes Kaposi sarcoma (KSHV) may live, focusing on people with HIV in sub‑Saharan Africa.
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-11415862 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work aims to locate tissue and cellular reservoirs of Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in people who were infected with KSHV, many of whom also had HIV. Researchers will perform full‑body autopsies on consenting postmortem donors at partner sites in sub‑Saharan Africa and collect samples from many organs and tissues. Laboratory testing will search those samples for KSHV DNA/RNA and infected or transformed cells and compare findings by HIV and KS history. The team hopes to map where the virus persists in the body to help explain why Kaposi sarcoma can recur despite treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) living with HIV who are KSHV seropositive in participating sub‑Saharan African sites, or families willing to consent to postmortem full‑body donation, would be the appropriate candidates.
Not a fit: People who are HIV‑negative and KSHV‑negative, children, or anyone unable or unwilling to consent to postmortem donation are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this project could identify tissue targets for new diagnostics or treatments to prevent Kaposi sarcoma from coming back.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work has detected KSHV in individual tissues such as brain, but comprehensive full‑body mapping of KSHV reservoirs in humans 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.