Research Group

  • Dr. Dirk Dittmer, Principal Investigator

Location

  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA

Title

  • SCID-Mouse/Human Transplant Model for Gamma Herpes Virus Infection

The purpose of this proposal is to develop a small animal model for human herpes virus infections. Normally, herpes viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus, cause no more than fever, but in organ transplantation patients these viruses grow out of control and cause death. Since these viruses only grow in human tissues, we decided to transplant human cells into mice. We can thus infect the mice with the human virus and study the viral biology. We can also test anti-viral drugs or drugs that are used in organ transplantations for their effect on herpes virus replication.