Infection-Induced Telomere Length Variation: Insights into Pathogenesis of Koala Retrovirus.

ABSTRACT: The pathogenesis of koala retrovirus (KoRV) has been explored in various contexts, yet its role in tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Unlike acute transforming retroviruses, KoRV lacks a viral oncogene but may contribute to oncogenesis via indirect mechanisms. However, the relationship between KoRV and telomere length, as a potential indicator of telomerase activity, has not been examined. This study investigates the effect of KoRV infection on telomere length in 47 samples from Southern Australian koalas in a novel telomere length quantification method. Telomere lengths of 30 KoRV-negative samples were compared to those of 17 KoRV-positive samples using the Absolute Human Telomere Length Quantification qPCR kit (ScienCell Research Laboratories, California, USA). The telomere l

SUBMITTER: Cheung HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656766 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature