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Kaposi Sarcoma
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| The Levy laboratory is involved in studies of malignancies associated with HIV infection, particularly Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS). The tumor occurs in immunosuppressed individuals such as HIV infected people and kidney transplant patients. A new human herpesvirus, HHV-8, has been found associated with Kaposi's Sarcoma. We are attempting to culture HHV-8 in cell culture and have achieved its limited growth. We have also helped to develop a serologic test to detect antibodies to HHV-8 in KS patients and the normal population. Up to 25% of healthy adults have antibodies to the virus and unless these prople are immune suppressed, KS will not develop. Our objective is to isolate HHV-8 consistently in culture and develop procedures for evaluation of drugs against the virus and eventually to develop a vaccine against this virus. |  |
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