Identification of diverse full-length endogenous betaretroviruses in megabats and microbats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Betaretroviruses infect a wide range of species including primates, rodents, ruminants, and marsupials. They exist in both endogenous and exogenous forms and are implicated in animal diseases such as lung cancer in sheep, and in human disease, with members of the human endogenous retrovirus-K (HERV-K) group of endogenous betaretroviruses (βERVs) associated with human cancers and autoimmune diseases. To improve our understanding of betaretroviruses in an evolutionarily distinct host species, we characterized βERVs present in the genomes and transcriptomes of mega- and microbats, which are an important reservoir of emerging viruses.

Results

A diverse range of full-length βERVs were discovered in mega- and microbat genomes and transcriptomes including the first ident

SUBMITTER: Hayward JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3621094 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature