Vaccine candidates to boost antibody protection against Kaposi sarcoma virus (KSHV)
KSHV Subunit Vaccine Candidates to Elicit Potent Humoral Immune Reponses against KSHV Infection
New vaccine pieces are being developed to spark strong antibody protection against KSHV for people at risk of Kaposi sarcoma, especially those with HIV or weakened immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11021059 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm someone at risk, this work aims to create vaccine particles that include four KSHV proteins important for the virus to enter human cells (K8.1, gB, and gH/gL). The team will give these multivalent virus-like particles to mice, including mice engineered with human immune cells, to see whether they produce strong neutralizing antibodies and limit infection. The project builds on lab findings showing antibodies to these proteins can block KSHV infection of human cells in vitro. If the vaccines perform well in animals, the researchers plan to advance toward human testing to prevent KSHV infection and related cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future human trials would likely seek people at higher risk for KSHV, such as people living with HIV, transplant recipients, or others with weakened immune systems.
Not a fit: People not exposed to KSHV or those who already have established KSHV-related cancers are unlikely to get direct benefit from a preventive vaccine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could prevent KSHV infection and reduce cases of Kaposi sarcoma and KSHV-related B‑cell lymphomas, especially among people with HIV or other immune suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies and antibody experiments have shown that antibodies to K8.1, gB, and gH/gL can neutralize KSHV in cells, but there is not yet a licensed human KSHV vaccine.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ogembo, Javier Gordon — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Ogembo, Javier Gordon
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.