HUMAN HERPESVIRUS 8 INFECTION IN ZIMBABWE

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）：卡波西肉瘤是最常见的 获得性免疫缺陷综合征（艾滋病）患者常见的癌症 在世界范围内，是生活在津巴布韦的所有人中最普遍的癌症。 患有和没有患有艾滋病的人中KS的发生与以下因素有关 感染最近发现的人类疱疹病毒8（HHV-8;也称为 Kaposi肉瘤相关病毒或KSHV）。现有数据强烈表明 HHV-8是卡波西肉瘤的病原体， 人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1）和HHV 8大大增加了风险 卡波西肉瘤的风险因此，目前流行的卡波西肉瘤 在津巴布韦，很可能是伴随感染的高风险的结果， HHV 8和HIV-1在津巴布韦人中的分布。到目前为止，HHV 8在 津巴布韦人与HHV 8复制之间的关系尚未确定， HIV-1相关免疫缺陷和卡波西肉瘤的发病机制尚不清楚。 尽管卡波西肉瘤在津巴布韦流行， 在用于诊断和监测HHV 8的技术方面经验有限 感染和详细的研究HHV 8流行病学和发病机制， 津巴布韦没有进行。本提案的目的是 在美国和津巴布韦调查人员之间建立强有力的合作 用于研究HHV 8感染和卡波西肉瘤。这些研究将定义 津巴布韦HHV 8感染的流行率，并确定 津巴布韦人HHV 8基因表达与卡波西肉瘤疾病状态之间的关系 卡波西肉瘤除了提供关于 HHV 8感染的流行病学和发病机制，预计这些 初步研究将为今后调查 卡波西肉瘤中的HHV 8。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract):Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common cancer in persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worldwide, and is the most prevalent cancer in all persons living in Zimbabwe. The occurrence of KS in persons with, and without AIDS has been linked to infection with the recently discovered human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8; also called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated virus or KSHV). Available data strongly suggest that HHV-8 is the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and that coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HHV8 greatly increases the risk of developing Kaposi's sarcoma. Thus, the present epidemic of Kaposi's sarcoma in Zimbabwe is likely the result of a high risk of concomitant infection with both HHV8 and HIV-1 in Zimbabweans. To date, the prevalence of HHV8 in Zimbabweans has not been defined and the relationship between HHV8 replication, HIV-1 related immunodeficiency and Kaposi's sarcoma pathogenesis is unknown. Even though Kaposi's sarcoma is epidemic in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwean investigators have limited experience with the techniques used to diagnose and monitor HHV8 infection and detailed studies on HHV8 epidemiology and pathogenesis in Zimbabwe have not been conducted. The purpose of the present proposal is to develop a strong collaboration between American and Zimbabwean investigators for studies on HHV8 infection and Kaposi's sarcoma. These studies will define the prevalence of HHV8 infection in Zimbabwe and to determine the relationship between HHV8 gene expression and Kaposi's sarcoma disease status in Zimbabweans with Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition to providing important information on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HHV8 infection, it is expected that these initial studies will provide the basis for future investigations on the role of HHV8 in Kaposi's sarcoma.