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Retroviral immunology: lessons from a mouse model

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Abstract

Friend virus (FV) is a murine retrovirus that causes acute disease leading to lethal erythroleukemia in most strains of mice. Strains of mice that mount strong and rapid immune responses can recover from acute infection, but nevertheless develop life-long chronic infections. The study of this infection has revealed the types of immune responses required for both recovery from the acute phase and the control of the chronic phase of infection. This knowledge has led to vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat infections and associated disease states. The FV model has provided insights into immunological mechanisms found to be relevant to human infections with retroviruses such as HIV-1 and HTLV-1.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S. 4th St, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA

    Lara Myers & Kim J. Hasenkrug

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  1. Lara Myers
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  2. Kim J. Hasenkrug
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Correspondence to Kim J. Hasenkrug.

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Myers, L., Hasenkrug, K.J. Retroviral immunology: lessons from a mouse model. Immunol Res 43, 160–166 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-008-8061-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-008-8061-x

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