title: Does chronic infection in retroviruses have a sense?
abstract: Over recent years, retroviral gene expression has been shown to depend on a promoter that is bidirectional. This promoter activity is likely to occur at either end of the retroviral genome and has important consequences at the level of retroviral gene expression. This review focuses on the recent discovery of retroviral antisense genes termed HBZ [in human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)] and ASP (in HIV-1) in terms of their function and the regulation of their expression, both of which are interconnected with the expression and function of other viral proteins. Emphasis is also given to the potential implication of these proteins in the maintenance of chronic infection in infected individuals. In light of recent findings, the discovery of these new genes opens a new avenue for the future treatment of HTLV-1- and HIV-1-infected individuals.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, 2080 Saint-Urbain, Montréal, QC H2X 3X8, Canada; Centre de Recherche BioMed, Université du Québec à Montréal, 2080 Saint-Urbain, Montréal, QC H2X 3X8, Canada. Electronic address: barbeau.benoit@uqam.ca.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbeau
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, CNRS, UM5236, CPBS, F-34965 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mesnard
mesh_terms: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000821:virology*; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; C479751:HBZ protein, human T-cell leukemia virus type I; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins
keywords: ASP; HBZ; HIV-1; HTLV; antisense transcription; chronic infection