How Kaposi’s sarcoma virus controls its late gene activity
Separating late gene transcription from viral DNA replication in KSHV
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT · NIH-11140816
This project looks at how the Kaposi’s sarcoma virus, which commonly affects people with untreated AIDS and other immune problems, turns on a set of viral genes during DNA copying.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SHREVEPORT, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11140816 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists will use modern genetic tools and high-throughput virus mutation tests in lab-grown cells to find the viral parts that allow late viral genes to be switched on only after the virus copies its DNA. They will search for viral mutations that stop late gene activity while leaving DNA replication intact, and study viral replication proteins and DNA origin regions to understand how these processes are linked. The team will use approaches developed previously by the investigator, including CRISPR-style methods and functional genomics, to map these dependencies. Results are intended to clarify viral mechanisms that could become targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with KSHV infection or Kaposi’s sarcoma, especially those with HIV/AIDS or other causes of immune suppression, would be the most relevant patients for future trials or therapies that arise from this work.
Not a fit: People without KSHV infection or those whose cancers are caused by non-viral factors are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new viral targets for drugs that prevent or treat Kaposi’s sarcoma and other KSHV-related diseases in people with weakened immune systems.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab-based genetic mapping approaches have previously helped identify viral functions, and preliminary data from the investigator already show mutations can separate late gene expression from DNA replication, but clinical translation is still early.
Where this research is happening
SHREVEPORT, UNITED STATES
- LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT — SHREVEPORT, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MORGENS, DAVID W — LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT
- Study coordinator: MORGENS, DAVID W
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome