Gene that suppresses herpesviruses discovered
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 - 21:30
in Biology & Nature
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus hide within the worldwide human population. While dormant in the vast majority of those infected, these active herpesviruses can develop into several forms of cancer. In an effort to understand and eventually develop treatments for these viruses, researchers at the University of North Carolina have identified a family of human genes known as Tousled-like kinases that play a key role in the suppression and activation of these viruses.