PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

New tales told by old infections

2013-11-26
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Patric Jern
Patric.Jern@imbim.uu.se
46-018-471-4593
Uppsala University
New tales told by old infections Retroviruses are important pathogens capable of crossing species barriers to infect new hosts, but knowledge of their evolutionary history is limited. By mapping endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), retroviruses whose genes have become part of the host organism's genome, researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, can now provide unique insights into the evolutionary relationships of retroviruses and their host species. The findings will be published in a coming issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

All retroviruses, including HIV in humans, must become part of the host cell's genome in order to produce new viruses. When a germ line cell is infected there is a chance for the virus to be passed on to the host organism's offspring, and for millions of years retroviruses have colonized vertebrate hosts, leaving traces in their genetic make-up as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs).

Using large-scale computer analyses, researchers in Patric Jern's research team at Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University, uncover new depths in retroviral diversity and find evidence for a host reservoir of one group of retroviruses, with rampant host switching throughout history. The computer screening identified nearly 90,000 ERVs from 60 host genomes sampled across vertebrate diversity, making it possible for the researchers to map host distribution, origin, and transmission of these viruses.

"Our results indicate that current infectious retrovirus diversity may be underestimated, adding credence to the possibility that many additional retroviruses may remain to be discovered in vertebrate species," says Alexander Hayward, the lead author of the new study.

The researchers find evidence of frequent host-switching by one group of retroviruses throughout history, pointing to a rodent host reservoir and that rats may have acted as facilitators of retroviral spread across diverse mammalian hosts.

"This study demonstrates the potential of the genomic record as an important resource for improving understanding of the long term co-evolution among retroviruses and host species," says Patric Jern.

The genomic record provided by ERVs offers improved knowledge of the evolution and frequency of past retroviral spread to evaluate future risks and limitations for horizontal transmission between different host species. This is relevant given the emergence of prominent diseases linked with retroviral infection, such as HIV, which switched hosts to humans from monkey species.

### The findings are now being published in PNAS:

Hayward A., Grabherr M., and Jern P. (2013) Broad-scale phylogenomics provides insights into retrovirus-host evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA)

For more information please contact the following researchers:

Patric Jern
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology
tel: +46 (0)18-471 4593
e-mail: Patric.Jern@imbim.uu.se Alexander Hayward
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology
tel: +46 (0)18-471 4115
e-mail: Alexander.Hayward@imbim.uu.se


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Hands off -- please

2013-11-26
Hands off -- please Friendly information signs reduce vandalism on scientific equipment This news release is available in German. Behavioural biologists conducting research in the field often depend on state-of-the-art techniques. Consequently, ...

Brain imaging differences in infants at genetic risk for Alzheimer's

2013-11-26
Brain imaging differences in infants at genetic risk for Alzheimer's PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Researchers from Brown University and Banner Alzheimer's Institute have found that infants who carry a gene associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease ...

Using microRNA fit to a T (cell)

2013-11-26
Using microRNA fit to a T (cell) Researchers show B cells can deliver potentially therapeutic bits of modified RNA Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have successfully targeted T lymphocytes – which play a central ...

Cervical cancer screening overused in some groups of women

2013-11-26
Cervical cancer screening overused in some groups of women SALT LAKE CITY— For the past ten years, clinicians throughout the United States have been performing unnecessary Pap tests for cervical cancer screening in certain groups of women, according to a researcher from Huntsman ...

Search for habitable planets should be more conservative

2013-11-26
Search for habitable planets should be more conservative Scientists should take the conservative approach when searching for habitable zones where life-sustaining planets might exist, according to James Kasting, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Penn State, including ...

UTMB researchers find ear infections down, thanks to vaccine

2013-11-26
UTMB researchers find ear infections down, thanks to vaccine Advent of PCV-13 vaccine in 2010 contributed to sharp downward trend Otitis media, more commonly known as ear infection, is the leading cause of pediatric health care visits and ...

US methane emissions exceed government estimates

2013-11-26
US methane emissions exceed government estimates Collaborative atmospheric study indicates fossil fuel extraction and animal husbandry are major contributors Cambridge, Mass. – November 25, 2013 – Emissions of methane from fossil fuel extraction and refining activities ...

Increasing the number of insured patients is not tied to higher ICU usage in Massachusetts

2013-11-26
Increasing the number of insured patients is not tied to higher ICU usage in Massachusetts Better, earlier care may mean fewer ICU admissions; implications for US as national health care reform begins PHILADELPHIA- A multi-institution ...

Oxytocin leads to monogamy

2013-11-26
Oxytocin leads to monogamy Researchers at the Bonn University Medical Center: Hormone stimulates the brain reward system when viewing the partner How is the bond between people in love maintained? Scientists at the Bonn University Medical Center have ...

Study examines barriers to human papillomavirus vaccination among teens

2013-11-26
Study examines barriers to human papillomavirus vaccination among teens Barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents in the U.S. range from financial concerns and parental attitudes to social influences and concerns about the vaccination's ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] New tales told by old infections