Isolation and characterization of an infectious replication-competent molecular clone of ecotropic porcine endogenous retrovirus class C.
Xenotransplantation of pig organs is complicated by the existence of polytropic replication-competent porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) capable of infecting human cells. The potential for recombination between ecotropic PERV-C and human-tropic PERV-A and PERV-B adds another level of infectious risk. Proviral PERV-C were characterized in MAX-T cells derived from d/d haplotype miniature swine. Three proviruses were cloned from a genomic library. Clone PERV-C(1312) generated infectious particles after transfection into porcine ST-IOWA cells. Electron microscopy revealed the same morphologies of virions in MAX-T cells and in ST-IOWA cells infected with cell-free PERV-C(1312) particles, indicating that MAX-T cells harbor one functional PERV-C provirus.
Preuss
Thomas
T
Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 51-59, D-63225 Langen, Germany.
Fischer
Nicole
N
Boller
Klaus
K
Tönjes
Ralf R
RR
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine; D014162:Transfection; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014779:Virus Replication