Improved pig donor screening including newly identified variants of porcine endogenous retrovirus-C (PERV-C).
Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) are widely distributed in the genomes of pigs. PERV-A and PERV-B are present in all pigs. They infect human cells in vitro and therefore represent a risk for xenotransplantation when pig cells, tissues or organs are used. PERV-C infects only pig cells and is not present in the genomes of all pigs. However, PERV-A/C recombinants infecting human cells and characterized by high replication titers were found in pigs. To select PERV-C-free animals that cannot generate such recombinants, PCR-based assays were developed (Kaulitz et al., J Virol Methods, 175:60, 2011). When screening for PERV-C in German wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa), applying these methods, a new variant of PERV-C was identified. Whereas in all 125 wild boar only the new variant of PERV-C was found, different variants were present in some landrace pigs, and most importantly, some pigs were totally free of PERV-C.
Centre of HIV and Retrovirology, Robert Koch-Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Danny
D
Kaulitz
Debora
D
Mihica
Cornelia
C
Adlhoch
Marwan
M
Semaan
Joachim
J
Denner
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods*; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005858:Germany; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000821:virology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral