Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)--a new human tumour virus.

Recently, a novel DNA virus has been molecularly cloned from Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tissue, a tumour common in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Analysis of the viral genome confirms that it is a relative of human herpesviruses and the virus has been designated HHV-8. Epidemiological evidence suggests a strong aetiological link between the presence of HHV-8 DNA and/or antibodies against the virus, and KS. Additional sequence analysis suggests that the HHV-8 genome contains sequences which encode a D type cyclin and a number of other genes potentially implicated in growth deregulation which may be relevant to its proposed role as a transforming virus.