Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus glycoprotein K8.1 is critical for infection in a cell-specific manner and functions at the attachment step on keratinocytes

Abstract excerpt

ABSTRACT Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma and B cell malignancies. K8.1, the major antigenic component of the KSHV virion, has been reported to play a critical role in the infection of B cells, but otherwise its function remains enigmatic. We created a K8.1 knockout virus (KSHVΔK8.1) in the BAC16 genetic background and analyzed its infectivity on a range of...