Understanding how the KSHV virus grows and causes cancer
Mechanisms regulating KSHV transcription elongation and termination
This project aims to understand how the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) controls its genes, which could help us find new ways to fight the cancers it causes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10833122 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a virus that can lead to serious cancers like Kaposi's sarcoma and certain lymphomas. Like other herpesviruses, KSHV has a complex life cycle where it can be quiet (latent) or active (lytic), and it needs to carefully control its genes to grow. This project looks at how KSHV uses the body's own machinery to turn its genes on and off, specifically focusing on how it controls the process of making RNA copies from its DNA. By understanding these control mechanisms, we hope to discover new weaknesses in the virus that could be targeted by future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit future patients diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, or multicentric Castleman's disease caused by KSHV.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct participation in a clinical trial will not find direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for medications that stop KSHV from growing, potentially leading to new treatments for Kaposi's sarcoma and other KSHV-related cancers.
How similar studies have performed: While KSHV's use of host machinery is known, the specific regulation of its gene expression by elongation has been largely unexplored, making this a novel approach building on recent discoveries from unbiased genetic screens.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conrad, Nicholas K — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Conrad, Nicholas K
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.