Infectious KoRV-related retroviruses circulating in Australian bats.

ABSTRACT: Bats are reservoirs of emerging viruses that are highly pathogenic to other mammals, including humans. Despite the diversity and abundance of bat viruses, to date they have not been shown to harbor exogenous retroviruses. Here we report the discovery and characterization of a group of koala retrovirus-related (KoRV-related) gammaretroviruses in Australian and Asian bats. These include the Hervey pteropid gammaretrovirus (HPG), identified in the scat of the Australian black flying fox (Pteropus alecto), which is the first reproduction-competent retrovirus found in bats. HPG is a close relative of KoRV and the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), with virion morphology and Mn²⁺-dependent virion-associated reverse transcriptase activity typical of a gammaretrovirus. In vitro, H

SUBMITTER: Hayward JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7196810 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature