Epstein Barr Virus Associated Lymphoma Consortium (EALC)

Highlights of the Joint Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Vaccine Development Consortium (KVDC)/ EALC Meeting

Principle Investigators (PI) or representatives from each of the KVDC were present in person along with seven EALC teams, while two members joined virtually. Graduate students/fellows from many of the projects attended and gave presentations of their projects’ significant results. This meeting was a venue for the exchange of information and insights into new areas, or new approaches to employ, and are the fuel for initiating future collaborations. 

Here are some research highlights from the meeting: 

•  Iyabode Tiamiyu, a senior PhD student who is a part of Dr. Houston Warren’s KVDC team, presented results from the ARTEMIS platform showing that the strongest binding of KSHV viral proteins occurs in CD8 T cells. The talk also showed that in the related gamma herpesvirus, EBV, systemic CD8 T cells are necessary for controlling viral loads.
• Dr. Isabella Kong, a fellow who is part of the Weill Cornell EALC project, presented recent results on the spatial molecular imaging of EBV+ HIV-associated lymphomas, which revealed divergent cytokine expression and tumor: immune niches linked to an EBV latency program. Dr. Kong showed that latency III tumor cells show elevated IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-21 cytokine production when compared to latency I production of these cytokines. 

For additional information about the EALC, please contact Dr. Betsy Read-Connole.