Inventors:
Michael S. McGrath - Burlingame CA
Brian Herndier - Burlingame CA
Valerie L. Ng - Piedmont CA
Donald E. Ganem - San Francisco CA
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA
International Classification:
A61K 39245, A61K 3912, C12N 700
Abstract:
A human lymphoma cell line containing a human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) capable of in vitro growth and which produces HHV-8 virus particles upon induction of lytic viral growth is provided. Virus produced by the cell line of the invention is useful for the production of antibodies to an HHV-8 virus particle, viral protein, or viral peptide. Methods of screening a biological sample for the presence of HHV-8 virus particles, viral protein, or viral peptide from a human suspected of being infected with HHV-8 are provided as are methods of screening a biological sample of the human for antibodies to HHV-8.