Endogenous Lentivirus Discovery in Malagasy Lemurs
Author Information
Author(s): Gilbert Clément, Maxfield David G., Goodman Steven M., Feschotte Cédric
Primary Institution: University of Texas at Arlington
Hypothesis
Can lentiviruses infiltrate the germline of Malagasy lemurs and be inherited vertically?
Conclusion
The study found that lentiviruses have independently infiltrated the germline of two genera of Malagasy lemurs, providing evidence of their long-term presence in primates.
Supporting Evidence
- Endogenous lentiviral insertions were found in seven species of Malagasy lemurs.
- The presence of the endogenous lentivirus in Microcebus is due to a single endogenization event.
- Cheirogaleus also experienced a separate endogenization event around the same time.
Takeaway
Researchers discovered that some viruses can become part of the DNA of lemurs and be passed down to their babies, showing that these viruses have been around for a very long time.
Methodology
The study involved molecular clock analyses and cross-species screening of orthologous insertions to trace the history of lentivirus endogenization.
Limitations
The low coverage of the gray mouse lemur genome may affect the accuracy of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on seven species of Malagasy lemurs from two genera: Cheirogaleus and Microcebus.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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