Archaic translation initiation factor eIF5B supports KSHV late lytic replication and viral oncogenesis by mimicking a hypoxic cellular landscape
Christian McDonald, Omayra Méndez-Solís, Yuan-De Tan, Renu Khasa, Julián Naipauer, Anuj Ahuja, Efe Karaca, Yoandy Marcelo, Natalie Ruiz-Ocaña, Clarice Djouwoug Noussi, Thai My Duyen Tran, Joshua M. Hare, Sabita Roy, Stephen Lee, Enrique A. Mesri, Noula Shembade
This paper shows that KSHV uses eIF5B to mimic hypoxia and support viral replication and oncogenesis by altering translation initiation.
bioRxiv · Feb 26, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology