Our Research Focuses on Two Oncogenic Viruses:
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV) Type 1
- 10 kb ssRNA virus
- 5-10 million infected individuals
- 5% develop leukemia/lymphoma or myelopathy
- 2 viral oncoproteins: Tax & Hbz
Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) Herpes Virus
- 138 kb dsDNA virus
- 45,000 KS diagnoses/year
- Associated with immune defects, endemic countries, and elderly men
- Tumor have complex cell composition
- Causes B lymphoid and lymphatic endothelial tumors