Sayumi Shimode

Identification of a Novel Subgroup of Koala Retrovirus from Koalas in Japanese Zoos.

ABSTRACT We identified a new subgroup of koala retrovirus (KoRV), named KoRV-J, which utilizes thiamine transport protein 1 as a receptor instead of the Pit-1 receptor used by KoRV (KoRV-A). By subgroup-specific PCR, KoRV-J and KoRV-A were detected in 67.5 and 100% of koalas originating from koalas from northern Australia, respectively. Altogether, our results indicate that the invasion of the koala population by KoRV-J may have occurred more recently than invasion by KoRV-A.

Heterogeneity of koala retrovirus isolates

Koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a gammaretrovirus which may induce immune suppression, leukemia and lymphoma in koalas. Currently three KoRV subgroups (A, B, and J) have been reported. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that KoRV‐B and KoRV‐J should be classified as the same subgroup. In long terminal repeat (LTR), a KoRV‐B isolate has four 17 bp tandem repeats named direct repeat (DR)‐1, while a KoRV‐J isolate (strain OJ‐4) has three 37 bp tandem repeats named DR‐2. We also found that the promoter activity of the KoRV‐J strain OJ‐4 is stronger than that of original KoRV‐A, suggesting that KoRV‐J may replicate more efficiently than KoRV‐A.

Multiple invasions of an infectious retrovirus in cat genomes

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of ancient retroviral infections of host germ-line cells. While most ERVs are defective, some are active and express viral proteins. The RD-114 virus is a replication-competent feline ERV, and several feline cell lines produce infectious RD-114 viral particles. All domestic cats are considered to have an ERV locus encoding a replication-competent RD-114 virus in their genomes; however, the locus has not been identified. In this study, we investigated RD-114 virus-related proviral loci in genomes of domestic cats, and found that none were capable of producing infectious viruses. We also found that all domestic cats have an RD-114 virus-related sequence on chromosome C2, termed RDRS C2a, but populations of the other RDRSs are different depending on the regions where cats live or breed. Our results indicate that RDRS C2a, the oldest RD-114-related provirus, entered the host genome before an ancestor of domestic cats started diverging and the other new RDRSs might have integrated into migrating cats in Europe. We also show that infectious RD-114 virus can be resurrected by the recombination between two non-infectious RDRSs. From these data, we conclude that cats do not harbor infectious RD-114 viral loci in their genomes and RD-114-related viruses invaded cat genomes multiple times.

Characterization of feline ASCT1 and ASCT2 as RD-114 virus receptor.

RD-114 virus is a replication-competent feline endogenous retrovirus (ERV). RD-114 virus had been thought to be xenotropic; however, recent findings indicate that RD-114 virus is polytropic and can infect and grow efficiently in feline cells. Receptor(s) for RD-114 virus has not been identified and characterized in cats. In this study, we confirmed that two feline sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporters (ASCTs), fASCT1 and fASCT2, function as RD-114 virus receptors. By chimeric analyses of feline and murine ASCTs, we revealed that extracellular loop 2 of both fASCT1 and fASCT2 determines the susceptibility to RD-114 virus. Further, we revealed ubiquitous expression of these genes, consistent with the general metabolic role of the ASCT molecules. Our study indicates that RD-114 virus may reinfect tissues and cells in cats, once the virus is activated. Implications of the involvement of RD-114 virus in feline oncogenesis are also discussed.

Identification of cellular factors required for the budding of koala retrovirus

Koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a unique gammaretrovirus that is currently endogenizing into its host and considered to be associated with leukemia, lymphoma and immunosuppression in koalas (Phascolactos cinereus). In this study, it was demonstrated that WWP2 or WWP2‐like E3 ubiquitin ligases possessing the WW domain closely related to WWP2 and Vps4A/B are involved in KoRV budding. These data suggest that KoRV Gag recruits the cellular endosomal sorting complex required for transport machinery through interaction of the PPPY L‐domain with the WW domain(s) of WWP2 and that progeny virions are released from cells by utilizing the multivesicular body sorting pathway.

Binding of transcription factor activating protein 2 γ on the 5′-proximal promoter region of human porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A receptor 2/GPR172B

Nakaya Y, Shimode S, Kobayashi T, Imakawa K, Miyazawa T. Binding of transcription factor activating protein 2γ on the 5′‐proximal promoter region of human porcine endogenous retrovirus subgroup A receptor 2/GPR172B. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 177–185.

Contamination of live attenuated vaccines with an infectious feline endogenous retrovirus (RD-114 virus)

Retroviruses are classified as exogenous and endogenous retroviruses according to the mode of transmission. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are retroviruses which have been integrated into germ-line cells and inherited from parents to offspring. Most ERVs are inactivated by deletions and mutations; however, certain ERVs maintain their infectivity and infect the same host and new hosts as exogenous retroviruses. All domestic cats have infectious ERVs, termed RD-114 virus. Several canine and feline attenuated vaccines are manufactured using RD-114 virus-producing cell lines such as Crandell-Rees feline kidney cells; therefore, it is possible that infectious RD-114 virus contaminates live attenuated vaccines. Recently, Japanese and UK research groups found that several feline and canine vaccines were indeed contaminated with infectious RD-114 virus. This was the first incidence of contamination of ‘infectious’ ERVs in live attenuated vaccines. RD-114 virus replicates efficiently in canine cell lines and primary cells. Therefore, it is possible that RD-114 virus infects dogs following inoculation with contaminated vaccines and induces proliferative diseases and immune suppression, if it adapts to grow efficiently in dogs. In this review, we summarize the incidence of contamination of RD-114 virus in live attenuated vaccines and potential risks of infection with RD-114 virus in dogs.

Susceptibility of domestic animals to a pseudotype virus bearing RD-114 virus envelope protein.

Retroviral vectors are used for gene transduction into cells and have been applied to gene therapy. Retroviral vectors using envelope protein (Env) of RD-114 virus, a feline endogenous retrovirus, have been used for gene transduction. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility to RD-114 Env-pseudotyped virus in twelve domestic animals including cattle, sheep, horse, pig, dog, cat, ferret, mink, rabbit, rat, mouse, and quail. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of ASCT2 (SLC1A5), a receptor of RD-114 virus, in 10 mammalian and 2 avian species revealed that insertion and deletion events at the region C of ASCT2 where RD-114 viral Env interacts occurred independently in the mouse and rat lineage and in the chicken and quail lineage. By the pseudotype virus infection assay, we found that RD-114 Env-pseudotyped virus could efficiently infect all cell lines except those from mouse and rat. Furthermore, we confirmed that bovine ASCT2 (bASCT2) functions as a receptor for RD-114 virus infection. We also investigated bASCT2 mRNA expression in cattle tissues and found that it is expressed in various tissues including lung, spleen and kidney. These results indicate that retrovirus vectors with RD-114 virus Env can be used for gene therapy in large domestic animals in addition to companion animals such as cat and dog.