How does the Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus enter the cell? A new understanding

Some cancers are caused by a viral infection. This is the case with Kaposi's sarcoma, a disease that manifests as skin lesions, but can also affect organs, such as the lungs. It particularly threatens immunocompromised people, especially those infected by HIV, but also children and men in sub-Saharan Africa, where the virus is endemic. In order to better treat this disease, it is essential to understand the functioning of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), which causes it. A study in which the Structural Virology team at the Institut Pasteur participated investigates the way this herpesvirus manages to infect human cells.

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