Transgenic pigs and virus adaption
Article Abstract:
Biotechnology companies are investigating a number of ways of preventing hyperacute rejection when porcine tissue is exposed to human blood. These strategies include generating transgenic pigs that overexpress a fucosyltransferase that competes with the substrate for alpha-Gal attachment. This means that a fucose group, representing a natural human blood-group antigen, replaces alpha-Gal. The pig endogenous retroviruses are unlikely to spark off a new human epidemic, as they grow to only low titres in human cells and will therefore probably not be pathogenic. However, there could be a risk of virus adaptation or recombination with other retroviruses.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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Hot fusion of HIV
Article Abstract:
The infection of macrophages and peripheral blood-lymphocytes by the non-syncytium-inducing HIV viral strains requires the viral adsorption to the CD4 cell surface receptor and activity of the CC-CKR-5 co-receptor. CC-CKR-5 is a receptor for beta-chemokines such as RANTES, MIP-1-alpha and MIP-1-beta. The chemokines suppress viral infection by inhibiting viral fusion and entry. The lymphocytes of individuals resistant to HIV infection contain a high level of beta-chemokines. Co-expression of CD4 and CC-CKR-5 genes makes the cells susceptible to infection.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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Illicit viral DNA
Article Abstract:
Scientist Klenerman's genetic research demonstrating that cDNA fragments of the RNA-replicating lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) virus develop in the presence of retroviral reverse transcriptase is an astonishing development in the field. Evidence indicates that the same genetic process may exist in other viruses such as the hepatitis B virus family. Further research is required to establish more about cDNA synthesis.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1997
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