Gammaherpesviruses, such as KSHV and MHV68, have developed a fine-tune equilibrium with the immune system of their host. As a result, these viruses establish a life-long persistent infection in their host without causing significant pathologies. Immunomodulatory proteins encoded by these viruses are likely to be critical regulators of this equilibrium. Our proposal focuses on K3, a protein encoded by KSHV and MHV68 that attenuates the antiviral CD8 responses.
We aim to understand how this protein is regulated and whether we could circumvent its activity. We believe that this information will prove to be instrumental for the development of a KSHV vaccine.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal aims at identifying mechanisms that will improve immune responses against Kaposi's sarcoma associated virus. Such knowledge will be instrumental for the development of drugs and/or vaccines against KSHV.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA168477-01A1
Application #
8410071
Study Section
AIDS-associated Opportunistic Infections and Cancer Study Section (AOIC)
Program Officer
Read-Connole, Elizabeth Lee
Project Start
2012-09-14
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2012-09-14
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$259,318
Indirect Cost
$84,318
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704