Newly developed monoclonal antibodies for marmoset immunosuppression enable KSHV lytic replication and salivary shedding: A promising model for KSHV pathogenesis studies.

KSHV establishes systemic infection in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) under immunocompetent and immunosuppressed conditions, with viremia, seroconversion, and tissue persistence across four independent experiments.

• Why it matters: Progress on KSHV pathogenesis and vaccine or therapy development is limited by the lack of a reliable in vivo model that reproduces infection, persistence, and disease.
• What they did: The study validated the marmoset model by challenging animals under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and then using two novel mouse-marmoset chimeric monoclonal antibodies, anti-CD4 [TAWA] and anti-CD8 [OCHO], to deplete T-cell subsets.
• The result: Antibody-treated marmosets showed KSHV shedding in saliva and lytic replication, indicating the model supports a full, human-like replication cycle and enabling in vivo testing of immunity and interventions.