HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-8 KAPOSIS SARCOMA-ASSOCIATED HERPESVIRUS IS A NEW TRANSMISSIBLE VIRUS THAT INFECTS B-CELLS/

Herpesviral DNA fragments isolated from AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarco ma (KS) tissue (KSHV-DNA) share homology with two lymphotropic oncogen ic gamma-herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and Herpesvirus saimiri, an d are present in the lesions of more than 95% of HIV and non-HIV-assoc iated forms of KS, AIDS-related body cavity-based lymphomas, and AIDS- related multicentric Castleman's disease. Here we show that BC-1, a KS HV-DNA-positive, body cavity-based lymphoma cell line, produces infect ive herpesviral particles carrying a linear 270-kb genome that specifi cally transmits KSHV-DNA to CD19(+) B cells. Transmission of KSHV-DNA is dependent upon a biologically active, replicating virus, since it i s blocked by UV irradiation and foscarnet, all inhibitor of viral DNA- polymerase. This study represents the first isolation and transmission of the human herpesvirus-8/KS-associated herpesvirus.