Subversion of cytokine mRNA degradation by kaposi's sarcoma- associated Herpesvirus

Our laboratory is dedicated to revealing the strategies that viruses employ to infect host tissues and establish chronic disease. In people suffering from AIDS, co-infection with the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, human herpesvirus-8 causes a tumour known as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). We have recently discovered that KSHV encodes a protein that undermines host gene expression to promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from infected cells. These pro-inflammatory cytokines are key factors in KS tumour development. Our goal is to better understand the molecular events that allow KSHV to promote inflammation and tumourigenesis. The ultimate objective is to use this knowledge to develop new anti-viral therapies that prevent KS tumour formation.