Biopolymers and cell. 2003; 19 (3): 270 - 273

New endogenous retrovirus from the chicken genome

L. G. Borisenko, A. V. Rynditch

Pro and pol genes of a novel HERV-1-related retrovirus have been sequenced from the chicken genome. This is the first discovery of not-ALV-related endogenous retrovirus in the genome of domestic chicken. This retrovirus is similar to the MLV-related retroviruses which are widespread within genomes of vertebrates. Nevertheless, the novel retrovirus is not clustered with the MLV-related exogenous spleen necrosis virus (SNV) infecting chicken. The chicken HERV-I-related retrovirus is shown to be expressed in embryo fibroblasts.