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 homologo

SUBMITTER: Czauderna F 

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature