HIV and Herpes Virus Pathogenesis

Charles Wood, PhD - University of Nebraska-Lincoln - School of Biological Sciences.

The laboratory focuses on HIV and human herpesvirus, and the roles these viruses play in immunosuppression and cancer development. One of the ongoing projects is to study the transmission and evolution of HIV and Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a virus linked to Kaposi's Sarcoma, a rare cancer often found in AIDS patients. This project is being carried out in Africa where infection by both HIV and HHV-8 is at the epidemic level. Our goal is to understand how these viruses regulate gene expression, replicate, transmit, and cause diseases. This will lead to knowledge that can help in the development of strategies to prevent infection and disease development.