Segregation of EAV-HP ancient endogenous retroviruses within the chicken population.
Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), an exogenous avian retrovirus, is thought to have evolved by recombination with the highly identical env gene of the endogenous avian retrovirus EAV-HP. Embryonic expression of EAV-HP env has been suggested to be associated with the induction of immunological tolerance, a feature observed in a significant proportion of meat-type chickens infected with ALV-J. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrate that EAV-HP loci, some of which could be associated with tolerance, are still segregating within the chicken population.
Sacco
M A
MA
Institute for Animal Health, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 7NN, United Kingdom.
Venugopal
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers