title: No evidence of XMRV or related retroviruses in a London HIV-1-positive patient cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have implicated a recently discovered gammaretrovirus, XMRV (Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus), in chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer, though whether as causative agent or opportunistic infection is unclear. It has also been suggested that the virus can be found circulating amongst the general population. The discovery has been controversial, with conflicting results from attempts to reproduce the original studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We extracted peripheral blood DNA from a cohort of 540 HIV-1-positive patients (approximately 20% of whom have never been on anti-retroviral treatment) and determined the presence of XMRV and related viruses using TaqMan PCR. While we were able to amplify as few as 5 copies of positive control DNA, we did not find any positive samples in the patient cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of these negative findings in this highly susceptible group, we conclude that it is unlikely that XMRV or related viruses are circulating at a significant level, if at all, in HIV-1-positive patients in London or in the general population.
authors: Department of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom. e.gray@ucl.ac.uk
authors: Eleanor R
authors: ER
authors: Gray
authors: Jeremy A
authors: JA
authors: Garson
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Breuer
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Edwards
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Kellam
authors: Deenan
authors: D
authors: Pillay
authors: Greg J
authors: GJ
authors: Towers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D058008:Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004247:DNA