Selection Forces and Constraints on Retroviral Sequence Variation

All retroviruses possess a highly error-prone reverse transcriptase, but the extent of the consequent sequence diversity and the rate of evolution differ greatly among retroviruses. Because of the high mutability of retroviruses, it is not the generation of new viral variants that limits the extent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2001-05, Vol.292 (5519), p.1106-1109
Main Authors: Overbaugh, Julie, Charles R. M. Bangham
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Animals
Biological Evolution
Cells
Evolution
Feline leukemia virus
Genetic Variation - genetics
HIV - genetics
HIV - immunology
HIV - physiology
HIV 1
HTLV viruses
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human T lymphotropic virus 1
Human T-lymphotropic virus
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - genetics
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - immunology
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - physiology
Humans
Immune system
Infections
Leukemia
Leukemia Virus, Feline - genetics
Leukemia Virus, Feline - physiology
Mutation - genetics
Pathogens
Retroviridae
Retroviridae - genetics
Retroviridae - immunology
Retroviridae - physiology
Retroviridae Infections - immunology
Retroviridae Infections - transmission
Retroviridae Infections - virology
Retrovirus
Retroviruses
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Selection, Genetic
Simian immunodeficiency virus
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - genetics
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - physiology
T lymphocytes
Viewpoints
Viral diseases
Viral Vaccines - immunology
Viruses
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Summary:All retroviruses possess a highly error-prone reverse transcriptase, but the extent of the consequent sequence diversity and the rate of evolution differ greatly among retroviruses. Because of the high mutability of retroviruses, it is not the generation of new viral variants that limits the extent of diversity and the rate of evolution of retroviruses, but rather the selection forces that act on these variants. Here, we suggest that two selection forces-the immune response and the limited availability of appropriate target cells during transmission and persistence-are chiefly responsible for the observed sequence diversity in untreated retroviral infections. We illustrate these aspects of positive selection by reference to specific lentiviruses [human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV)] and oncoviruses [feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)] that differ in their extent of variation and in disease outcomes.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1059128