scholarly journals The Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) gH/gL Complex Is the Predominant Neutralizing Antigenic Determinant in KSHV-Infected Individuals

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasaman Mortazavi ◽  
Salum J. Lidenge ◽  
Tara Tran ◽  
John T. West ◽  
Charles Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antigenic Determinant ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Viral Glycoproteins ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), one of the most prevalent cancers of people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The seroprevalence for KSHV is high in the region, and no prophylactic vaccine against the virus is available. In this study, we characterized the antigenic targets of KSHV-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in asymptomatic KSHV-infected individuals and KS patients with high nAbs titers. We quantified the extent to which various KSHV envelope glycoproteins (gB, ORF28, ORF68, gH, gL, gM, gN and gpK8.1) adsorbed/removed KSHV-specific nAbs from the plasma of infected individuals. Our study revealed that plasma from a majority of KSHV neutralizers recognizes multiple viral glycoproteins. Moreover, the breadth of nAbs responses against these viral glycoproteins varies among endemic KS, epidemic KS and asymptomatic KSHV-infected individuals. Importantly, among the KSHV glycoproteins, the gH/gL complex, but neither gH nor gL alone, showed the highest adsorption of KSHV-specific nAbs. This activity was detected in 80% of the KSHV-infected individuals regardless of their KS status. The findings suggest that the gH/gL complex is the predominant antigenic determinant of KSHV-specific nAbs. Therefore, gH/gL is a potential target for development of KSHV prophylactic vaccines.

scholarly journals Wild-Type Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Isolated from the Oropharynx of Immune-Competent Individuals Has Tropism for Cultured Oral Epithelial Cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 4074-4084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Duus ◽  
Vivian Lentchitsky ◽  
Timothy Wagenaar ◽  
Charles Grose ◽  
Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Oral Epithelial Cells ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Oral Epithelial

ABSTRACT Based on the observation that wild-type Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) DNA can be detected in the oral cavity of healthy, immunocompetent individuals, we hypothesized that epithelial cells could be infected in vitro by wild-type (WT) KSHV isolated from immunocompetent individuals. Primary oral epithelial (P-EPI) cells and telomerase-immortalized oral epithelial cells were generated from human gingival tissue and were then infected in vitro with WT KSHV isolated from throat wash samples. Markers of lytic and latent KSHV infection were detected in cultures by 24 h postinfection by immunofluorescence confocal microscopic assays. The infectivity of the WT and BCBL virus was blocked by neutralizing antibodies against KSHV gB. The presence of KSHV DNA in these cells was confirmed by real-time PCR amplification of different regions of the viral genome. The significant in vitro viral replication that had occurred was inhibited by ganciclovir and by neutralizing antibodies against gB. When infected cultures were examined by scanning electron microscopy, thousands of KSHV particles were clearly visible across the surfaces of P-EPI cells. The detection of enveloped particles indicated that the infectious cycle had proceeded through assembly and egress. We thus demonstrated that oral WT KSHV isolated from immunocompetent individuals was able to infect and replicate in vitro in a relevant primary cell type. Furthermore, our results provide compelling evidence for KSHV transmission within infected oral epithelial cells derived from healthy, immunocompetent populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document