Virology, Nebraska Center for

 

Date of this Version

10-20-2023

Citation

Julius P, Kang G, Siyumbwa S, Musumali J, Tso FY, Ngalamika O, Kaile T, Maate F, Moonga P, West JT, Angeletti P and Wood C (2023) Co-infection and colocalization of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus in HIVassociated Kaposi sarcoma: a case report. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 13:1270935. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1270935

Comments

Open access.

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a multifocal vascular neoplasm frequently observed in HIVpositive individuals, primarily affects the skin, mucous membranes, visceral organs, and lymph nodes. KS is associated primarily with Kaposi sarcomaassociated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of co-infection and co-localization of KSHV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in KS arising from the conjunctiva, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) were utilized to demonstrate the presence of KSHV and EBV infection in the ocular KS lesion. Nearly all KSHV-positive cells displayed co-infection with EBV. In addition, the KS lesion revealed co-localization of KSHV Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen (LANA) and EBV Epstein Barr virus Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA1) by multicolored immunofluorescence staining with different anti-EBNA1 antibodies, indicating the possibility of interactions between these two gamma herpesviruses within the same lesion. Additional study is needed to determine whether EBV co-infection in KS is a common or an opportunistic event that might contribute to KS development and progression.

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