Related Experiment Videos
Ancient and modern retroviruses
1Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, UK.
Acta Microbiologica Et Immunologica Hungarica
|November 1, 2000
Summary
Retroviruses transmit via infectious particles or integrated DNA. New research details porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) infectious to humans and human retrovirus 5 (HRV-5) linked to autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Retroviruses transmit as infectious particles or endogenous proviral DNA.
- Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1, HIV-2) are recent zoonoses from simians.
- Human endogenous retroviral genomes evolved with primates; human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-1, II) have ancient human origins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize newly identified retroviruses in pigs and humans.
- To assess the risk of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in xenotransplantation.
- To investigate the association of human retrovirus 5 (HRV-5) with specific diseases.
Main Methods:
- Genomic characterization of novel retroviruses.
- In vitro studies on PERV infectivity for human cells.
- Clinical association studies for HRV-5.
Main Results:
- Porcine endogenous retroviral (PERV) genomes are integrated in pig DNA and can produce virions infectious to human cells.
- Human retrovirus 5 (HRV-5) is detected as an exogenous genome.
- HRV-5 detection is associated with arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Conclusions:
- PERVs pose a potential risk for human xenotransplantation.
- HRV-5 may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases.
- Understanding retroviral transmission and evolution is crucial for public health and medical applications.