KSHV Cancerogenesis and the Novel Strategies in Vaccine Design

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is an oncogenic virus that is associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), and other immune disorders. During the millions-year-long co-evolution with human, KSHV has developed a sophisticated system to switch and balance its biphasic latent-lytic lifecycle. To date, tons of efforts have been made to unveil its lifecycle and specific cancerogenesis. However, not a single specific, effective, and widely accessible treatment for this virus has been figured out. This article reviews the basis of the KSHV lifecycle and some important factors to generate malignant cancers and then offers a few novel and feasible vaccination strategies.