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Significance The endogenous retrovirus (ERV) record in host DNA left by retrovirus infections in the germline over millions of years allows studies of historic retrovirus–host dynamics, which is increasingly relevant… Click to show full abstract
Significance The endogenous retrovirus (ERV) record in host DNA left by retrovirus infections in the germline over millions of years allows studies of historic retrovirus–host dynamics, which is increasingly relevant considering contemporary zoonotic viral transmissions and mounting efforts in conservation management of threatened species. Applying bioinformatics on whole-genome sequencing and host population data allow us to draw parallels between ERV lineages, such as the phaCin-β ERVs, related to the squirrel monkey retrovirus that we identified in koala, and the currently invading koala retrovirus. Based on unfixed ERVs in the koala population and divergence comparisons between these two ERV lineages, it is conceivable that active phaCin-β retroviruses remain to be discovered in the Australasian fauna.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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