Gj. Baillie et Rj. Wilkins, Endogenous type D retrovirus in a marsupial, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), J VIROLOGY, 75(5), 2001, pp. 2499-2507
We have sequenced and characterized an endogenous type D retrovirus, which
we have named TvERV(D), from the genome of an Australian marsupial, the com
mon brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Intact TvERV(D) gag, pro, pal
, and ear open reading frames were detected in the possum genome. TvERV(D)
was classified as a type D retrovirus, most closely related to those of Old
World monkeys, New World monkeys, and mice, based on phylogenetic analyses
and genetic organization. Approximately 30 TvERV(D) proviruses are present
in the genomes of possums, as detected by Southern hybridization. However,
variability in fragment patterns between possums was observed and suggests
recent (or ongoing) retrotranspositional activity.