Identification and characterization of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The present work has the aim to: a) identify and characterize HHV-8 infection in São Paulo, Brazil, searching for DNA sequences by PCR in PBMC, saliva, semen, vaginal fluid and KS tissue lesions obtained from KS-AIDS patients, from Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas and Casa da AIDS - São Paulo; b) to determine the prevalence of HHV-8 infection in the general population by specific antibodies determination in plasma samples obtained from healthy children and adults, by using immunoenzimatic, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting assays; c) to identify routes of HHV-8 transmission; and finally d) to characterize by genotyping the HHV-8 variants that circulate in São Paulo, Brazil. (AU)