Endogenous lentivirus in Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus), a close relative of primates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A significant fraction of mammalian genomes is composed of endogenous retroviral (ERV) sequences that are formed by germline infiltration of various retroviruses. In contrast to other retroviral genera, lentiviruses only rarely form ERV copies. We performed a computational search aimed at identification of novel endogenous lentiviruses in vertebrate genomes.

Findings

Using the in silico strategy, we have screened 104 publicly available vertebrate genomes for the presence of endogenous lentivirus sequences. In addition to the previously described cases, the search revealed the presence of endogenous lentivirus in the genome of Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus). At least three complete copies of this virus, denoted ELVgv, were detected in the colugo genome, an

SUBMITTER: Hron T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4198772 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature