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Endogenous retroviruses

Coevolution of endogenous Betaretroviruses of sheep and their host

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Abstract.

Sheep betaretroviruses offer a unique model system to study the complex interaction between retroviruses and their host. Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is a pathogenic exogenous retrovirus and the causative agent of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The sheep genome contains at least 27 copies of endogenous retroviruses (enJSRVs) highly related to JSRV. enJSRVs have played several roles in the evolution of the domestic sheep as they are able to block the JSRV replication cycle and play a critical role in sheep conceptus development and placental morphogenesis. Available data strongly suggest that some dominant negative enJSRV proviruses (i.e. able to block JSRV replication) have been positively selected during evolution. Interestingly, viruses escaping the transdominant enJSRV loci have recently emerged (less than 200 years ago). Thus, endogenization of these retroviruses may still be occurring today. Therefore, sheep provide an exciting and unique system to study retrovirus-host coevolution. (Part of a Multi-author Review)

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Author notes

  1. M. Varela

    Present address: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, CB3 0ES, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland, United Kingdom

    F. Arnaud, M. Varela & M. Palmarini

  2. Laboratory for Uterine Biology and Pregnancy, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

    T. E. Spencer

Authors
  1. F. Arnaud
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  2. M. Varela
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  3. T. E. Spencer
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  4. M. Palmarini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Palmarini.

Additional information

F. Arnaud, M. Varela: These authors contributed equally to this article.

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Arnaud, F., Varela, M., Spencer, T.E. et al. Endogenous retroviruses. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 3422–3432 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8500-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8500-9

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