• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.387-390
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• 2011

Nude mice (BALB/c) were grafted with human 293 cells and PERV (porcine endogenous retrovirus)-IRES-EGFP (a packageable retroviral vector plasmid containing an internal ribosome entry site-enhanced green fluorescent protein)-producing pig PK15 cells in order to determine whether the pig cells could transmit PERV-IRES-EGFP to mice and human 293 cells in vivo. None of the transplanted human 293 cell lines were infected by PERV, but PCR analysis identified PERV-B provirus integration into both the heart and salivary gland of the inoculated nude mice. Our data indicate that hearts and salivary glands can be used to identify PERV-B receptors.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.226-233
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• 2012

Since the advent of whole-genome sequencing, transposable elements (TEs), just thought to be 'junk' DNA, have been noticed because of their numerous copies in various eukaryotic genomes. Many studies about TEs have been conducted to discover their functions in their host genomes. Based on the results of those studies, it has been generally accepted that they have a function to cause genomic and genetic variations. However, their infinite functions are not fully elucidated. Through various mechanisms, including de novo TE insertions, TE insertion-mediated deletions, and recombination events, they manipulate their host genomes. In this review, we focus on Alu, L1, human endogenous retrovirus, and short interspersed element/variable number of tandem repeats/Alu (SVA) elements and discuss how they have affected primate genomes, especially the human and chimpanzee genomes, since their divergence.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.451-454
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• 2005

Introduction of foreign genes into brain cells, such as neurons and astrocytes, is a powerful approach to study the gene function and regulation in the neuroscience field. Calcium phosphate precipitates have been shown to cause cytotoxicity in some mammalian cells and brain cells, thus leading to low transfection efficiency. Here, we describe a retrovirus-mediated gene delivery method to transduce foreign genes into brain cells. In an attempt to achieve higher gene delivery efficiency in these cells, we made several changes to the original method, including (1) use of a new packaging cell line, Phoenix ampho cells, (2) transfection of pMX retroviral DNA, (3) inclusion of 25 mM chloroquine in the transduction, and (4) 3- 5 h incubation of retroviruses with target cells. The results showed that the modified protocol resulted in a range of 40- 60% gene delivery efficiency in neurons and astrocytes. Furthermore, these results suggest the potential of the retrovirus-mediated gene delivery protocol being modified and adapted for other transfection-refractory cell lines and primary cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1273-1281
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• 2020

Due to the broad host suitability of viral vectors and their high gene delivery capacity, many researchers are focusing on viral vector-mediated gene therapy. Among the retroviruses, foamy viruses have been considered potential gene therapy vectors because of their non-pathogenicity. To date, the prototype foamy virus is the only retrovirus that has a high-resolution structure of intasomes, nucleoprotein complexes formed by integrase, and viral DNA. The integration of viral DNA into the host chromosome is an essential step for viral vector development. This process is mediated by virally encoded integrase, which catalyzes unique chemical reactions. Additionally, recent studies on foamy virus integrase elucidated the catalytic functions of its three distinct domains and their effect on viral pathogenicity. This review focuses on recent advancements in biochemical, structural, and functional studies of foamy virus integrase for gene therapy vector research.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 1995

The PCR was employed to detect and characterize the bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV), which is a newly recognized member of the I entivirinae of the retroviruses. Degenerate primers representing the conserved regions in the pol genes of the Lentivirinae, were used to detect proviral DNA obtained from the bovine embryonic spleen cell cultures infected with BIV. The PCR amplified DNA fragment was molecularly cloned and sequenced. The BIV DNA fragment contained a sequence identical to that reported by Garvey et al. (Garvey et al., 1990. Virology, 175, 391-409). With the degenerate primers, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of sick cattle and cells cultured with BIV were tested to determine genetic variation of BIV pol conserved sequence. We found the sequence heterogeneity within cultures and most variations occurred at the third base of codons that would not lead to amino acid substitutions. Another change was GAG (Glu) to AAG (Lys) within the BIV isolates. Interestingly, the altered sequence is also found in other lentiviruses such as HIV-2, SIV mac, CAEV and EIAV.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2005

Xenotransplantation may help to overcome the critical shortage of human tissues and organs for human transplantation, Swine represents an ideal source of such organs owing to their anatomical and physiological similarities to human besides their plentiful supply, However, the use of organs across the species barrier may be associated with the risk of transmission of pathogens, specially porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs).• Although most of these potential pathogens could be eliminated by pathogen-free breeding, PERVs are not eliminated by this treatment. PERVs are integrated into the genome of all pigs and produced by normal pig cells and infect human cells. They belong to gamma retroviruses and are of three classes viruses: A, B and C. In the present study, PCR based cloning was performed with chromosomal DNA extracted from pigs from domestic pigs in Korea. Amplified PCR fragments of about 1.5 Kb, covering the partial env gene, were cloned into pCR2.l-TOPO vectors and sequenced. A total of 91 env clones were obtained from domestic pigs, Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed the presence of only PERV class A and B in the proportion of 58 % and 42 %, respectively. Among these, 28 clones had the correct open reading frame: 18 clones in class A and 10 clones in class B. Since both these PERV classes are polytropic and have the capacity to infect human cells, our data suggest that proviral PERVs have the potential to generate infectious viruses during or after xenotransplantation in human.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

We recently used degenerate PCR and locus-specific PCR methods to identify the endogenous retroviruses (ERV) in the bovine genome. Using the ovine ERV classification system, the bovine ERVs (BERVs) could be classified into four families. Here, we searched the most recently released bovine genome database with the partial nucleotide sequence of the pro/pol region of the BERV ${\beta}3$ family. This allowed us to obtain and analyze the complete genome of BERV ${\beta}3$. The BERV ${\beta}3$ genome is 7666 nucleotides long and has the typical retroviral organization, namely, 5'-long terminal repeat (LTR)-gag-pro-pol-env-LTR-3'. The deduced open reading frames for gag, pro, pol and env of BERV ${\beta}3$ en- code 507, 271, 879 and 603 amino acids, respectively. BERV ${\beta}3$ showed little amino acid similarity to other betaretroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it clusters with HERV-K. This is the first report describing the genetic structure and sequence of an entire BERV.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.119-123
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• 2009

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) gamma1 in the pig genome have the potential to act as harmful factors in xenotransplantation (pig-to-human). Long terminal repeats (LTRs) are known to be strong promoter elements that could control the transcription activity of PERV elements and the adjacent functional genes. To investigate the transcribed PERV gamma1 LTR elements in pig tissues, bioinformatic and experimental approaches were conducted. Using RT-PCR amplification and sequencing approaches, 69 different transcribed LTR elements were identified. And 69 LTR elements could be divided into six groups (15 subgroups) by internal variation including tandem repeated sequences, insertion and deletion (INDEL). Remarkably, all internal variations were indentified in U3 region of LTR elements. Taken together, the identification and characterization of various PERV LTR transcripts allow us to extend our knowledge of PERV and its transcriptional study.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2007

One of the chief characteristics of the retrovirus life cycle is the appearance of provirus caused by integration of viral genome into the host cell genome, and its delivery stably to the next generation as a part of host germ line. This stable form is called endogenous retrovirus (ERV) and expressed by exogenous or endogenous factors. HERVs and MuERVs are present in humans and mice correspondingly, and their expressions frequently cause diseases. Several diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and neurological disorders are related with HERVs. Therefore, various strategies should be established for the development of effective therapies for the suffering patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2002

As an preliminary experiment for making transgenic animals producing human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH), we tried to express recombinant hFSH gene in vitro. hFSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland. The hormone is essential in the regulation of reproductive processes, such as follicular development and ovulation. Genes encoding the common gonadotrophin alpha subunit and FSH-specific beta subunit were inserted into retroviral vectors under the control of the rat beta actin promoter. Gene transfer to the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was done by infection of the retroviruses harvested from PT67 packaging cells transfected with recombinant retrovirus vector DNA. After selection with G4l8, PCR and RT-PCR analyses of the G4l8-resistant CHO cells showed successful transfer and expression of both ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ fragments of the FSH gene.