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Establishment and characterization of molecular clones of porcine endogenous retroviruses replicating on human cells.

ABSTRACT: The use of pig xenografts is being considered to alleviate the shortage of allogeneic organs for transplantation. In addition to the problems overcoming immunological and physiological barriers, the existence of numerous porcine microorganisms poses the risk of initiating a xenozoonosis. Recently, different classes of type C porcine endogenous retoviruses (PERV) which are infectious for human cells in vitro have been partially described. We therefore examined whether completely intact proviruses exist that produce infectious and replication-competent virions. Several proviral PERV sequences were cloned and characterized. One molecular PERV class B clone, PERV-B(43), generated infectious particles after transfection into human 293 cells. A second clone, PERV-B(33), which was highly homologous to PERV-B(43), showed a G-to-A mutation in the first start codon (Met to Ile) of the env gene, preventing this provirus from replicating. However, a genetic recombinant, PERV-B(33)/ATG, carrying a restored env start codon, became infectious and could be serially passaged on 293 cells similar to virus clone PERV-B(43). PERV protein expression was detected 24 to 48 h posttransfection (p. t.) using cross-reacting antiserum, and reverse transcriptase activity was found at 12 to 14 days p.t. The transcriptional start and stop sites as well as the splice donor and splice acceptor sites of PERV mRNA were mapped, yielding a subgenomic env transcript of 3. 1 kb. PERV-B(33) and PERV-B(43) differ in the number of copies of a 39-bp segment in the U3 region of the long terminal repeat. Strategies to identify and to specifically suppress or eliminate those proviruses from the pig genome might help in the production of PERV-free animals.

SUBMITTER: Czauderna F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC111916 | biostudies-literature | 2000 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Establishment and characterization of molecular clones of porcine endogenous retroviruses replicating on human cells.

Czauderna F F Fischer N N Boller K K Kurth R R Tönjes R R RR

Journal of virology 20000501 9

The use of pig xenografts is being considered to alleviate the shortage of allogeneic organs for transplantation. In addition to the problems overcoming immunological and physiological barriers, the existence of numerous porcine microorganisms poses the risk of initiating a xenozoonosis. Recently, different classes of type C porcine endogenous retoviruses (PERV) which are infectious for human cells in vitro have been partially described. We therefore examined whether completely intact proviruses ...[more]

PMID: 10756014

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Project description:Vertically transmitted endogenous retroviruses pose an infectious risk in the course of pig-to-human transplantation of cells, tissues, and organs. Two classes of polytropic type C porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) productively infect human cells in vitro. The cloning and characterization of replication-competent PERV-B sequences from infected human cells (F. Czauderna, N. Fischer, K. Boller, R. Kurth, and R. R. Tönjes, J. Virol. 74:4028-4038, 2000) as well as the cloning of functional PERV-A and -B sequences from porcine cell line PK15 (U. Krach, N. Fischer, F. Czauderna, and R. R. Tönjes, J. Virol. 75:5465-5472, 2001) have been previously described. Here we report the isolation of four full-length proviral sequences from a porcine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library that comprises chromosomally assigned PERV. Clones Bac-PERV-A(130A12) and Bac-PERV-A(151B10) map to pig chromosome 1 and demonstrate close homology to PK15-PERV-A(58) in env and to PERV-MSL in long terminal repeat (LTR), gag, and pro/pol sequences. Clone Bac-PERV-A(463H12) is located on pig chromosome 3 and demonstrates close homology to PK15-PERV-A(58) in env and to 293-PERV-B(43) in LTR, gag, and pro/pol (Czauderna et al.; R. R. Tönjes, F. Czauderna, N. Fischer, U. Krach, K. Boller, P. Chardon, C. Rogel-Gailard, M. Niebert, G. Scheef, A. Werner, and R. Kurth, Transplant Proc. 32:1158-1161, 2000). Clone Bac-PERV-B(192B9) is located on pig chromosome 7 in the swine leukocyte antigen region and is highly homologous with but distinct from the previously described functional clone 293-PERV-B(43) and bears the number of repeats initially observed in the LTRs of clone 293-PERV-A(42) (Czauderna et al.; Krach et al.). Clones Bac-PERV-A(130A12), Bac-PERV-A(151B10), and Bac-PERV-A(463H12) were replication competent upon transfection into susceptible 293 and HeLa cells. Bac-PERV-B(192B9), however, bears two stop codons in pro/pol preventing this clone from being replication competent in some individual pigs, but initial screenings indicate that this provirus might be intact in others. The data suggest that the porcine genome harbors a limited number of infectious PERV sequences, allowing for specific screening in different pig breeds.

Project description:BackgroundHuman endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent the inheritance of ancient germ-line cell infections by exogenous retroviruses and the subsequent transmission of the integrated proviruses to the descendants. ERVs have the same internal structure as exogenous retroviruses. While no replication-competent HERVs have been recognized, some retain up to three of four intact ORFs. HERVs have been classified before, with varying scope and depth, notably in the RepBase/RepeatMasker system. However, existing classifications are bewildering. There is a need for a systematic, unifying and simple classification. We strived for a classification which is traceable to previous classifications and which encompasses HERV variation within a limited number of clades.ResultsThe human genome assembly GRCh 37/hg19 was analyzed with RetroTector, which primarily detects relatively complete Class I and II proviruses. A total of 3173 HERV sequences were identified. The structure of and relations between these proviruses was resolved through a multi-step classification procedure that involved a novel type of similarity image analysis ("Simage") which allowed discrimination of heterogeneous (noncanonical) from homogeneous (canonical) HERVs. Of the 3173 HERVs, 1214 were canonical and segregated into 39 canonical clades (groups), belonging to class I (Gamma- and Epsilon-like), II (Beta-like) and III (Spuma-like). The groups were chosen based on (1) sequence (nucleotide and Pol amino acid), similarity, (2) degree of fit to previously published clades, often from RepBase, and (3) taxonomic markers. The groups fell into 11 supergroups. The 1959 noncanonical HERVs contained 31 additional, less well-defined groups. Simage analysis revealed several types of mosaicism, notably recombination and secondary integration. By comparing flanking sequences, LTRs and completeness of gene structure, we deduced that some noncanonical HERVs proliferated after the recombination event. Groups were further divided into envelope subgroups (altogether 94) based on sequence similarity and characteristic "immunosuppressive domain" motifs. Intra and inter(super)group, as well as intraclass, recombination involving envelope genes ("env snatching") was a common event. LTR divergence indicated that HERV-K(HML2) and HERVFC had the most recent integrations, HERVL and HUERSP3 the oldest.ConclusionsA comprehensive HERV classification and characterization approach was undertaken. It should be applicable for classification of all ERVs. Recombination was common among HERV ancestors.

Dataset Information

Establishment and characterization of molecular clones of porcine endogenous retroviruses replicating on human cells.

Publications

Establishment and characterization of molecular clones of porcine endogenous retroviruses replicating on human cells.

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