Endogenous lentiviruses in the ferret genome

Abstract

By screening 74 chordate genomes for endogenous lentiviruses using Pol sequences of exogenous lentiviruses as a reference, we identified a novel endogenous lentivirus in the genome of the ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the ferret endogenous lentivirus, denoted ELVmpf, diverged early in the evolution of the mammalian lentiviruses, although with a lack of resolution at key nodes. These data support the notion that lentiviruses have evolved on timescales of millions of years.

Fig 1

Genome organization of an endogenous lentivirus in the ferret genome (ELVmpf, contig 098598). The major genes are shown in comparison to those of exogenous lentiviruses, in this case represented by feline immunodeficiency virus subtype C (FIVsubC). The location of the putative vif-like element in ELVmpf is also shown.

Fig 2

Phylogenetic relationships of exogenous and endogenous (E) lentiviruses. ELVmpf sequences are shown in red. Bootstrap values greater than 70% are shown, and branch lengths are drawn to a scale of amino acid substitutions per site. The tree is midpoint rooted for purposes of clarity only. Abbreviations (with GenBank accession numbers shown in parentheses) of exogenous lentiviruses are as follows: OLV, ovine lentivirus (YP_536867); BIV, bovine immunodeficiency virus (NP_040563); SIVcpz, simian immunodeficiency virus cpz, host chimpanzee (AAF18575); SIVmnd2, simian immunodeficiency virus mnd2, host mandrill (NP_758887); HIV-1, human immunodeficiency virus 1 (NP_057849); HIV-2, human immunodeficiency virus 2 (NP_663784); VMV, Visna/Maedi virus (NP_040840); CAEV, caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (NP_040939); FIVoma, feline immunodeficiency virus strain Oma (AAB49923); FIVpuma, feline immunodeficiency virus, host Puma concolor (ABO69501); FIVppr, feline immunodeficiency virus PPR isolate (AAA43076), FIVsubC, feline immunodeficiency virus subtype C (AAM13444); FIVpetaluma, feline immunodeficiency virus isolate Petaluma (P16088); FIVtm2, feline immunodeficiency virus isolate TM2 (P31822); and EIAV, equine infectious anemia virus (NP_056902). For endogenous lentiviruses, we used the names provided by Gifford et al. (3) and Katzourakis et al. (8).