Our laboratory studies viral pathogenesis and oncogenesis. We mainly study Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), an etiologic agent of AIDS-associated malignancies: Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a plasmablastic variant of multicentric Castleman disease, and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). Like all other herpesviruses, KSHV establishes a silent infection in infected cells (latent infection), and infected individuals become lifelong carriers of the viruses. Herpesviruses occasionally reactivate from infected cells (shifting to the replication phase), spreading to neighboring cells and other individuals.

Studies on latency to lytic replication switch mechanisms are crucial for inhibiting the KSHV replication cycle.

All viruses, including herpesviruses, need host cell proteins for replication because their genomes are too small to encode all necessary enzymes.

Our laboratory focuses on what cellular proteins the virus hijacks for their replication and how the protein is used to switch from latency to a productive replication cycle. By identifying which proteins and how the viruses do, we search for a strategy to inhibit viral replications, reducing herpesvirus-associated disease incidences.

All scientists, including undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, and PI, work on their research theme. We aim to learn something novel from virology and fight against devastating herpesvirus-related diseases. We welcome anyone passionate about finding something exciting with virology and who would like to contribute to the herpesvirus scientific community.