The Experts below are selected from a list of 138 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Martin Lochelt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Unique, the Known, and the Unknown of Spumaretrovirus Assembly.
Viruses, 2021Co-Authors: Dirk Lindemann, Guochao Wei, Sylvia Hütter, Martin LocheltAbstract:Within the family of Retroviridae, foamy viruses (FVs) are unique and unconventional with respect to many aspects in their molecular biology, including assembly and release of enveloped viral particles. Both components of the minimal assembly and release machinery, Gag and Env, display significant differences in their molecular structures and functions compared to the other retroviruses. This led to the placement of FVs into a separate subfamily, the Spumaretrovirinae. Here, we describe the molecular differences in FV Gag and Env, as well as Pol, which is translated as a separate protein and not in an orthoretroviral manner as a Gag-Pol fusion protein. This feature further complicates FV assembly since a specialized Pol encapsidation strategy via a tripartite Gag-genome–Pol complex is used. We try to relate the different features and specific interaction patterns of the FV Gag, Pol, and Env proteins in order to develop a comprehensive and dynamic picture of particle assembly and release, but also other features that are indirectly affected. Since FVs are at the root of the retrovirus tree, we aim at dissecting the unique/specialized features from those shared among the Spuma- and Orthoretrovirinae. Such analyses may shed light on the evolution and characteristics of virus envelopment since related viruses within the Ortervirales, for instance LTR retrotransposons, are characterized by different levels of envelopment, thus affecting the capacity for intercellular transmission.
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Bovine Foamy Virus: Shared and Unique Molecular Features In Vitro and In Vivo.
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Magdalena Materniak-kornas, Juan Tan, Anke Heit-mondrzyk, Agnes Hotz-wagenblatt, Martin LocheltAbstract:The retroviral subfamily of Spumaretrovirinae consists of five genera of foamy (spuma) viruses (FVs) that are endemic in some mammalian hosts. Closely related species may be susceptible to the same or highly related FVs. FVs are not known to induce overt disease and thus do not pose medical problems to humans and livestock or companion animals. A robust lab animal model is not available or is a lab animal a natural host of a FV. Due to this, research is limited and often focused on the simian FVs with their well-established zoonotic potential. The authors of this review and their groups have conducted several studies on bovine FV (BFV) in the past with the intention of (i) exploring the risk of zoonotic infection via beef and raw cattle products, (ii) studying a co-factorial role of BFV in different cattle diseases with unclear etiology, (iii) exploring unique features of FV molecular biology and replication strategies in non-simian FVs, and (iv) conducting animal studies and functional virology in BFV-infected calves as a model for corresponding studies in primates or small lab animals. These studies gained new insights into FV-host interactions, mechanisms of gene expression, and transcriptional regulation, including miRNA biology, host-directed restriction of FV replication, spread and distribution in the infected animal, and at the population level. The current review attempts to summarize these findings in BFV and tries to connect them to findings from other FVs.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference—Meeting Report
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo Soares, Arifa Khan, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on 30-31 August 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference-Meeting Report.
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Arifa S. Khan, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo A Soares, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on August 30⁻31, 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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The chromatin binding domain, including the QPQRYG motif, of feline foamy virus Gag is required for viral DNA integration and nuclear accumulation of Gag and the viral genome
Virology, 2018Co-Authors: Guochao Wei, Janet Lei, Qiuying Bao, Timo Kehl, Axel Benner, Martin LocheltAbstract:The retroviral Gag protein, the major component of released particles, plays different roles in particle assembly, maturation or infection of new host cells. Here, we characterize the Gag chromatin binding site including the highly conserved QPQRYG motif of feline foamy virus, a member of the Spumaretrovirinae. Mutagenesis of critical residues in the chromatin binding site/QPQRYG motif almost completely abrogates viral DNA integration and reduces nuclear accumulation of Gag and viral DNA. Genome packaging, reverse transcription, particle release and uptake into new target cells are not affected. The integrity of the QPQRYG motif appears to be important for processes after cytosolic entry, likely influencing incoming virus capsids or disassembly intermediates but not Gag synthesized de novo in progeny virus-producing cells. According to our data, chromatin binding is a shared feature among foamy viruses but further work is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.
Dirk Lindemann - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Unique, the Known, and the Unknown of Spumaretrovirus Assembly.
Viruses, 2021Co-Authors: Dirk Lindemann, Guochao Wei, Sylvia Hütter, Martin LocheltAbstract:Within the family of Retroviridae, foamy viruses (FVs) are unique and unconventional with respect to many aspects in their molecular biology, including assembly and release of enveloped viral particles. Both components of the minimal assembly and release machinery, Gag and Env, display significant differences in their molecular structures and functions compared to the other retroviruses. This led to the placement of FVs into a separate subfamily, the Spumaretrovirinae. Here, we describe the molecular differences in FV Gag and Env, as well as Pol, which is translated as a separate protein and not in an orthoretroviral manner as a Gag-Pol fusion protein. This feature further complicates FV assembly since a specialized Pol encapsidation strategy via a tripartite Gag-genome–Pol complex is used. We try to relate the different features and specific interaction patterns of the FV Gag, Pol, and Env proteins in order to develop a comprehensive and dynamic picture of particle assembly and release, but also other features that are indirectly affected. Since FVs are at the root of the retrovirus tree, we aim at dissecting the unique/specialized features from those shared among the Spuma- and Orthoretrovirinae. Such analyses may shed light on the evolution and characteristics of virus envelopment since related viruses within the Ortervirales, for instance LTR retrotransposons, are characterized by different levels of envelopment, thus affecting the capacity for intercellular transmission.
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Insights into Innate Sensing of Prototype Foamy Viruses in Myeloid Cells
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Maïwenn Bergez, Jakob Weber, Maximilian Riess, Alexander Erdbeer, Janna Seifried, Nicole Stanke, Clara M. Munz, Veit Hornung, Renate König, Dirk LindemannAbstract:Foamy viruses (FVs) belong to the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily of retroviruses and are characterized by unique features in their replication strategy. This includes a reverse transcription (RTr) step of the packaged RNA genome late in replication, resulting in the release of particles with a fraction of them already containing an infectious viral DNA (vDNA) genome. Little is known about the immune responses against FVs in their hosts, which control infection and may be responsible for their apparent apathogenic nature. We studied the interaction of FVs with the innate immune system in myeloid cells, and characterized the viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the cellular pattern recognition receptors and sensing pathways involved. Upon cytoplasmic access, full-length but not minimal vector genome containing FVs with active reverse transcriptase, induced an efficient innate immune response in various myeloid cells. It was dependent on cellular cGAS and STING and largely unaffected by RTr inhibition during viral entry. This suggests that RTr products, which are generated during FV morphogenesis in infected cells, and are therefore already present in FV particles taken up by immune cells, are the main PAMPs of FVs with full-length genomes sensed in a cGAS and STING-dependent manner by the innate immune system in host cells of the myeloid lineage.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference-Meeting Report.
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Arifa S. Khan, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo A Soares, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on August 30⁻31, 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference—Meeting Report
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo Soares, Arifa Khan, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on 30-31 August 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Spumaretroviruses: Updated taxonomy and nomenclature
Virology, 2018Co-Authors: Arifa S. Khan, Antoine Gessain, Jochen Bodem, Florence Buseyne, Welkin E. Johnson, Jens H. Kuhn, Jacek Kuzmak, Dirk Lindemann, Maxine L. Linial, Martin LocheltAbstract:Spumaretroviruses, commonly referred to as foamy viruses, are complex retroviruses belonging to the subfamily Spumaretrovirinae, family Retroviridae, which naturally infect a variety of animals including nonhuman primates (NHPs). Additionally, cross-species transmissions of simian foamy viruses (SFVs) to humans have occurred following exposure to tissues of infected NHPs. Recent research has led to the identification of previously unknown exogenous foamy viruses, and to the discovery of endogenous spumaretrovirus sequences in a variety of host genomes. Here, we describe an updated spumaretrovirus taxonomy that has been recently accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Executive Committee, and describe a virus nomenclature that is generally consistent with that used for other retroviruses, such as lentiviruses and deltaretroviruses. This taxonomy can be applied to distinguish different, but closely related, primate (e.g., human, ape, simian) foamy viruses as well as those from other hosts. This proposal accounts for host-virus co-speciation and cross-species transmission.
Guochao Wei - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Unique, the Known, and the Unknown of Spumaretrovirus Assembly.
Viruses, 2021Co-Authors: Dirk Lindemann, Guochao Wei, Sylvia Hütter, Martin LocheltAbstract:Within the family of Retroviridae, foamy viruses (FVs) are unique and unconventional with respect to many aspects in their molecular biology, including assembly and release of enveloped viral particles. Both components of the minimal assembly and release machinery, Gag and Env, display significant differences in their molecular structures and functions compared to the other retroviruses. This led to the placement of FVs into a separate subfamily, the Spumaretrovirinae. Here, we describe the molecular differences in FV Gag and Env, as well as Pol, which is translated as a separate protein and not in an orthoretroviral manner as a Gag-Pol fusion protein. This feature further complicates FV assembly since a specialized Pol encapsidation strategy via a tripartite Gag-genome–Pol complex is used. We try to relate the different features and specific interaction patterns of the FV Gag, Pol, and Env proteins in order to develop a comprehensive and dynamic picture of particle assembly and release, but also other features that are indirectly affected. Since FVs are at the root of the retrovirus tree, we aim at dissecting the unique/specialized features from those shared among the Spuma- and Orthoretrovirinae. Such analyses may shed light on the evolution and characteristics of virus envelopment since related viruses within the Ortervirales, for instance LTR retrotransposons, are characterized by different levels of envelopment, thus affecting the capacity for intercellular transmission.
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The chromatin binding domain, including the QPQRYG motif, of feline foamy virus Gag is required for viral DNA integration and nuclear accumulation of Gag and the viral genome
Virology, 2018Co-Authors: Guochao Wei, Janet Lei, Qiuying Bao, Timo Kehl, Axel Benner, Martin LocheltAbstract:The retroviral Gag protein, the major component of released particles, plays different roles in particle assembly, maturation or infection of new host cells. Here, we characterize the Gag chromatin binding site including the highly conserved QPQRYG motif of feline foamy virus, a member of the Spumaretrovirinae. Mutagenesis of critical residues in the chromatin binding site/QPQRYG motif almost completely abrogates viral DNA integration and reduces nuclear accumulation of Gag and viral DNA. Genome packaging, reverse transcription, particle release and uptake into new target cells are not affected. The integrity of the QPQRYG motif appears to be important for processes after cytosolic entry, likely influencing incoming virus capsids or disassembly intermediates but not Gag synthesized de novo in progeny virus-producing cells. According to our data, chromatin binding is a shared feature among foamy viruses but further work is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.
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Mutagenesis of N-terminal residues of feline foamy virus Gag reveals entirely distinct functions during capsid formation, particle assembly, Gag processing and budding
Retrovirology, 2016Co-Authors: Yixiong Liu, Janet Lei, Guochao Wei, Qiuying Bao, Tobias Kehl, Robert B Russell, Matthew J Betts, Martin LocheltAbstract:BackgroundFoamy viruses (FVs) of the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily are distinct retroviruses, with many features of their molecular biology and replication strategy clearly different from those of the Orthoretroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency, murine leukemia, and human T cell lymphotropic viruses. The FV Gag N-terminal region is responsible for capsid formation and particle budding via interaction with Env. However, the critical residues or motifs in this region and their functional interaction are currently ill-defined, especially in non-primate FVs.ResultsMutagenesis of N-terminal Gag residues of feline FV (FFV) reveals key residues essential for either capsid assembly and/or viral budding via interaction with the FFV Env leader protein (Elp). In an in vitro Gag–Elp interaction screen, Gag mutations abolishing particle assembly also interfered with Elp binding, indicating that Gag assembly is a prerequisite for this highly specific interaction. Gradient sedimentation analyses of cytosolic proteins indicate that wild-type Gag is mostly assembled into virus capsids. Moreover, proteolytic processing of Gag correlates with capsid assembly and is mostly, if not completely, independent from particle budding. In addition, Gag processing correlates with the presence of packaging-competent FFV genomic RNA suggesting that Pol encapsidation via genomic RNA is a prerequisite for Gag processing. Though an appended heterogeneous myristoylation signal rescues Gag particle budding of mutants unable to form capsids or defective in interacting with Elp, it fails to generate infectious particles that co-package Pol, as evidenced by a lack of Gag processing.ConclusionsChanges in proteolytic Gag processing, intracellular capsid assembly, particle budding and infectivity of defined N-terminal Gag mutants highlight their essential, distinct and only partially overlapping roles during viral assembly and budding. Discussion of these findings will be based on a recent model developed for Gag–Elp interactions in prototype FV.
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Mutagenesis of N-terminal residues of feline foamy virus Gag reveals entirely distinct functions during capsid formation, particle assembly, Gag processing and budding
Retrovirology, 2016Co-Authors: Yang Liu, Janet Lei, Guochao Wei, Qiuying Bao, Robert B Russell, Matthew J Betts, Timo Kehl, Martin LocheltAbstract:Background Foamy viruses (FVs) of the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily are distinct retroviruses, with many features of their molecular biology and replication strategy clearly different from those of the Orthoretroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency, murine leukemia, and human T cell lymphotropic viruses. The FV Gag N-terminal region is responsible for capsid formation and particle budding via interaction with Env. However, the critical residues or motifs in this region and their functional interaction are currently ill-defined, especially in non-primate FVs.
Nicole Stanke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Insights into Innate Sensing of Prototype Foamy Viruses in Myeloid Cells
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Maïwenn Bergez, Jakob Weber, Maximilian Riess, Alexander Erdbeer, Janna Seifried, Nicole Stanke, Clara M. Munz, Veit Hornung, Renate König, Dirk LindemannAbstract:Foamy viruses (FVs) belong to the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily of retroviruses and are characterized by unique features in their replication strategy. This includes a reverse transcription (RTr) step of the packaged RNA genome late in replication, resulting in the release of particles with a fraction of them already containing an infectious viral DNA (vDNA) genome. Little is known about the immune responses against FVs in their hosts, which control infection and may be responsible for their apparent apathogenic nature. We studied the interaction of FVs with the innate immune system in myeloid cells, and characterized the viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the cellular pattern recognition receptors and sensing pathways involved. Upon cytoplasmic access, full-length but not minimal vector genome containing FVs with active reverse transcriptase, induced an efficient innate immune response in various myeloid cells. It was dependent on cellular cGAS and STING and largely unaffected by RTr inhibition during viral entry. This suggests that RTr products, which are generated during FV morphogenesis in infected cells, and are therefore already present in FV particles taken up by immune cells, are the main PAMPs of FVs with full-length genomes sensed in a cGAS and STING-dependent manner by the innate immune system in host cells of the myeloid lineage.
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Structure of a Spumaretrovirus Gag Central Domain Reveals an Ancient Retroviral Capsid.
PLoS pathogens, 2016Co-Authors: Neil J. Ball, Giuseppe Nicastro, Moumita Dutta, Dominic J. Pollard, David C. Goldstone, Marta Sanz-ramos, Andres Ramos, Erik Müllers, Kristin Stirnnagel, Nicole StankeAbstract:The Spumaretrovirinae, or foamy viruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses that infect many species of monkey and ape. Despite little sequence homology, FV and orthoretroviral Gag proteins perform equivalent functions, including genome packaging, virion assembly, trafficking and membrane targeting. However, there is a paucity of structural information for FVs and it is unclear how disparate FV and orthoretroviral Gag molecules share the same function. To probe the functional overlap of FV and orthoretroviral Gag we have determined the structure of a central region of Gag from the Prototype FV (PFV). The structure comprises two all α-helical domains NtDCEN and CtDCEN that although they have no sequence similarity, we show they share the same core fold as the N- (NtDCA) and C-terminal domains (CtDCA) of archetypal orthoretroviral capsid protein (CA). Moreover, structural comparisons with orthoretroviral CA align PFV NtDCEN and CtDCEN with NtDCA and CtDCA respectively. Further in vitro and functional virological assays reveal that residues making inter-domain NtDCEN—CtDCEN interactions are required for PFV capsid assembly and that intact capsid is required for PFV reverse transcription. These data provide the first information that relates the Gag proteins of Spuma and Orthoretrovirinae and suggests a common ancestor for both lineages containing an ancient CA fold.
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A Unique Spumavirus Gag N-terminal Domain with Functional Properties of Orthoretroviral Matrix and
2016Co-Authors: David C. Goldstone, Dirk Lindemann, Nicole Stanke, Neil J. Ball, Marta Sanz-ramos, Thomas G. Flower, Melvyn W. Yap, Roksana W. Ogrodowicz, Juliane Reh, Jonathan P. StoyeAbstract:The Spumaretrovirinae, or foamyviruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses that infect many species of monkey and ape. Although FV infection is apparently benign, trans-species zoonosis is commonplace and has resulted in the isolation of the Prototypic Foamy Virus (PFV) from human sources and the potential for germ-line transmission. Despite little sequence homology, FV and orthoretroviral Gag proteins perform equivalent functions, including genome packaging, virion assembly, trafficking and membrane targeting. In addition, PFV Gag interacts with the FV Envelope (Env) protein to facilitate budding of infectious particles. Presently, there is a paucity of structural information with regards FVs and it is unclear how disparate FV and orthoretroviral Gag molecules share the same function. Therefore, in order to probe the functional overlap of FV and orthoretroviral Gag and learn more about FV egress and replication we have undertaken a structural, biophysical and virological study of PFV-Gag. We present the crystal structure of a dimeric amino terminal domain from PFV, Gag-NtD, both free and in complex with the leader peptide of PFV Env. The structure comprises a head domain together with a coiled coil that forms the dimer interface and despite the shared function it is entirely unrelated to either the capsid or matrix of Gag from other retroviruses. Furthermore, we present structural, biochemical and virological data that reveal the molecular details of the essential Gag-Env interaction and in addition we also examine the specificity of Trim5a restriction of PFV. These data provide the first information with regards to FV structural proteins and suggest a model for convergen
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A Unique Spumavirus Gag N-terminal Domain with Functional Properties of Orthoretroviral Matrix and Capsid
PLoS pathogens, 2013Co-Authors: David C. Goldstone, Dirk Lindemann, Nicole Stanke, Neil J. Ball, Marta Sanz-ramos, Thomas G. Flower, Melvyn W. Yap, Roksana W. Ogrodowicz, Juliane Reh, Jonathan P. StoyeAbstract:The Spumaretrovirinae, or foamyviruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses that infect many species of monkey and ape. Although FV infection is apparently benign, trans-species zoonosis is commonplace and has resulted in the isolation of the Prototypic Foamy Virus (PFV) from human sources and the potential for germ-line transmission. Despite little sequence homology, FV and orthoretroviral Gag proteins perform equivalent functions, including genome packaging, virion assembly, trafficking and membrane targeting. In addition, PFV Gag interacts with the FV Envelope (Env) protein to facilitate budding of infectious particles. Presently, there is a paucity of structural information with regards FVs and it is unclear how disparate FV and orthoretroviral Gag molecules share the same function. Therefore, in order to probe the functional overlap of FV and orthoretroviral Gag and learn more about FV egress and replication we have undertaken a structural, biophysical and virological study of PFV-Gag. We present the crystal structure of a dimeric amino terminal domain from PFV, Gag-NtD, both free and in complex with the leader peptide of PFV Env. The structure comprises a head domain together with a coiled coil that forms the dimer interface and despite the shared function it is entirely unrelated to either the capsid or matrix of Gag from other retroviruses. Furthermore, we present structural, biochemical and virological data that reveal the molecular details of the essential Gag-Env interaction and in addition we also examine the specificity of Trim5α restriction of PFV. These data provide the first information with regards to FV structural proteins and suggest a model for convergent evolution of gag genes where structurally unrelated molecules have become functionally equivalent.
Antoine Gessain - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference-Meeting Report.
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Arifa S. Khan, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo A Soares, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on August 30⁻31, 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Twelfth International Foamy Virus Conference—Meeting Report
Viruses, 2019Co-Authors: Ottmar Herchenröder, Martin Lochelt, Antoine Gessain, Florence Buseyne, Marcelo Soares, Arifa Khan, Dirk LindemannAbstract:The 12th International Foamy Virus Conference took place on 30-31 August 2018 at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. The meeting included presentations on current research on non-human primate and non-primate foamy viruses (FVs; also called spumaretroviruses) as well as keynote talks on related research areas in retroviruses. The taxonomy of foamy viruses was updated earlier this year to create five new genera in the subfamily, Spumaretrovirinae, based on their animal hosts. Research on viruses from different genera was presented on topics of potential relevance to human health, such as natural infections and cross-species transmission, replication, and viral-host interactions in particular with the immune system, dual retrovirus infections, virus structure and biology, and viral vectors for gene therapy. This article provides an overview of the current state-of-the-field, summarizes the meeting highlights, and presents some important questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Spumaretroviruses: Updated taxonomy and nomenclature
Virology, 2018Co-Authors: Arifa S. Khan, Antoine Gessain, Jochen Bodem, Florence Buseyne, Welkin E. Johnson, Jens H. Kuhn, Jacek Kuzmak, Dirk Lindemann, Maxine L. Linial, Martin LocheltAbstract:Spumaretroviruses, commonly referred to as foamy viruses, are complex retroviruses belonging to the subfamily Spumaretrovirinae, family Retroviridae, which naturally infect a variety of animals including nonhuman primates (NHPs). Additionally, cross-species transmissions of simian foamy viruses (SFVs) to humans have occurred following exposure to tissues of infected NHPs. Recent research has led to the identification of previously unknown exogenous foamy viruses, and to the discovery of endogenous spumaretrovirus sequences in a variety of host genomes. Here, we describe an updated spumaretrovirus taxonomy that has been recently accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Executive Committee, and describe a virus nomenclature that is generally consistent with that used for other retroviruses, such as lentiviruses and deltaretroviruses. This taxonomy can be applied to distinguish different, but closely related, primate (e.g., human, ape, simian) foamy viruses as well as those from other hosts. This proposal accounts for host-virus co-speciation and cross-species transmission.
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Emergence of simian foamy viruses in humans: facts and unanswered questions
Future Virology, 2008Co-Authors: Antoine Gessain, Sara CalattiniAbstract:A large proportion of viral pathogens that have emerged in humans are considered to have originated in animals. Simian viral infections of humans represent an increasing public health concern. This is well illustrated by retroviruses such as HIV-1/2 and human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1, which have a unique ability to cross species, adapt to a new host and spread. In this short review, we will present the currently available data on the transmission of the simian foamy retroviruses (SFVs) to humans. Indeed, recent data indicate the presence of these exogenous retroviruses, of the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily and of the Spumavirus genus, in individuals occupationally exposed to nonhuman primates (animal caretaker, veterinarian, zoo worker) and in individuals having contact with apes and monkeys, such as hunters in Central Africa. The main unanswered questions concerning the natural history of such SFVs in humans, for instance, their magnitude and geographical distribution, their interhuman transmissi...