Human herpesvirus type 8 isolated from human lymphoma cell line
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMichael S. McGrath, Brian Herndier, Valerie L. Ng, Donald E. Ganem
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Abstract
A human lymphoma cell line containing a human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) capable of in vitro growth and which produces HHV-8 virus particles upon induction of lytic viral growth is provided. Virus produced by the cell line of the invention is useful for the production of antibodies to an HHV-8 virus particle, viral protein, or viral peptide. Methods of screening a biological sample for the presence of HHV-8 virus particles, viral protein, or viral peptide from a human suspected of being infected with HHV-8 are provided as are methods of screening a biological sample of the human for antibodies to HHV-8.
Claims8
An isolated human B cell line, wherein the cell line contains a human herpesvirus type 8 virus particle and does not contain Epstein Barr Virus, wherein the cell line is the human B-lymphoma cell line designated BCBL-1 (ATCC CRL 11982).
An isolated human herpesvirus type 8 virus particle, characterized by:
- a) having a diameter of approximately 100 nm;
- b) having a viral genome visible by electron microscopy as an electron-dense icosahedral central toroid core;
- c) having a DNA which hybridizes to a DNA segment of SEQ ID NO:
- 1;
- and
- d) isolated from a human B-lymphoma cell obtained from a body cavity based lymphoma of a patient presenting with Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions, wherein the human B-lymphoma cell is BCBL-1 (ATCC CRL 11982).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.