How plasma cells in the tonsils help Kaposi sarcoma virus take hold
Official title: Defining the role of plasma cells in the establishment of KSHV infection in human tonsil
Funded at Chapman University · NIH-11177662 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a type of immune cell in the tonsils helps Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) start infections, which matters for people with HIV or organ transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chapman University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orange, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $585,145 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264913-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177662 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people undergoing tonsil removal who are willing to donate their removed tissue for research, especially those with HIV or organ transplants.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not having tonsil surgery or who cannot donate tissue would not be able to participate or directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you donated tonsil tissue, researchers would use it in a lab model that mimics how KSHV infects cells in the mouth and throat. They already have a large library of human tonsils and will infect tonsil-derived lymphocytes outside the body to see which cells get infected first. The team is focusing on mature plasma cells and testing whether infection of these cells amplifies the virus and whether the viral cytokine vIL-6 helps the virus establish itself. Results will come from lab experiments on the donated human tissues rather than treatments given to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to prevent or limit KSHV infection and reduce the risk of Kaposi sarcoma and related B-cell disorders in people with weakened immune systems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory work found that mature plasma cells are targeted early by KSHV, but using human tonsil tissue ex vivo to define the amplification role of plasma cells and the role of vIL-6 is a newer, more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Chapman University
Orange, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Totonchy, Jennifer E — Chapman University
- Study coordinator: Totonchy, Jennifer E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Positive Affect and Asthma in Kids: A New Way to Help Teens Stick to Their Inhalers
A study at Chapman University aims to help children and teens with asthma use their inhaled medications more consistently by using positive psychology approaches.
-
Understanding how infection, activity, genes, and sex affect dementia risk in Native South American groups
This project looks at how infections, exercise, APOE genotype, and biological sex influence cognitive aging and brain changes in two Native South American communities.
-
Oral inhibitors that block nNOS to help melanoma patients
A new oral medicine that blocks an enzyme called nNOS could slow melanoma growth and boost how well immunotherapy works for patients whose disease has spread.
-
A brain-penetrating form of erythropoietin aimed at treating Alzheimer’s disease
They are developing a modified erythropoietin that can enter the brain to protect nerve cells and help people with Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Tracking Indoor Air to Help Kids Quit Smoking
A program that uses IoT air sensors and tele-counseling to help families in low-income communities quit smoking and keep homes smoke-free.
-
How immune cells cause eye scarring and severe dry eye after bone marrow transplant
This project looks at how a type of immune cell called a macrophage leads to scarring, loss of tear-producing cells, and severe dry eye in people who develop ocular graft‑versus‑host disease after an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
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.