Retrovirus insertion into herpesvirus in vitro and in vivo.

AUTOR(ES)

Isfort, R

RESUMO

Retroviruses and herpesviruses are naturally occurring pathogens of humans and animals. Coinfection of the same host with both these viruses is common. We report here that a retrovirus can integrate directly into a herpesvirus genome. Specifically, we demonstrate insertion of a nonacute retrovirus, reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), into a herpesvirus, Marek disease virus (MDV). Both viruses are capable of inducing T lymphomas in chickens and often coexist in the same animal. REV DNA integration into MDV occurred in a recently attenuated strain of MDV and in a short-term coinfection experiment in vitro. We also provide suggestive evidence that REV has inserted into pathogenic strains of MDV in the past. Sequences homologous to the REV long terminal repeat are found in oncogenic MDV but not in nononcogenic strains. These results raise the possibility that retroviral information may be transmitted by herpesvirus and that herpesvirus expression can be modulated by retroviral elements. In addition, retrovirus may provide a useful tool to characterize herpesviral function by insertional mutagenesis.

Documentos Relacionados

• Retrovirus-mediated transfer of human adenosine deaminase gene sequences into cells in culture and into murine hematopoietic cells in vivo.
• Inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on the replication of a murine retrovirus in vitro and in vivo.
• A mouse c-myc retrovirus transforms established fibroblast lines in vitro and induces monocyte-macrophage tumors in vivo.
• A hybrid herpesvirus infectious vector based on Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 for gene transfer into human cells in vitro and in vivo.
• Herpesvirus sylvilagus infects both B and T lymphocytes in vivo.