Replication, Population Dynamics, Genetics, & Evolution of Retroviruses

Julia H. Wildschutte
NIH Predoctoral Fellow
M.S. Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
B.S. University of Pittsburgh, Microbiology

Thesis Title
The significance of polymorphic endogenous retroviruses to human health.

Current Research
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) result from the integration of retroviral DNA into germ cells. In the human population, the HERV-K(HML-2) proviruses are polymorphic in number and integration site and represent the most recently active HERV group. HERV-K proviruses with intact open reading frames in some or all genes exist, and individual HERV-K genes are conserved. Transcription of HERV-K is up-regulated during several diseases. However, the effects are poorly understood and it is unclear if this expression is a cause or a consequence of disease. It is possible proviral expression may lead to the formation of particles able to infect nearby cells; subsequent integration could have negative genetic effects. These viruses could be generated from complementation in trans of multiple HERV-K loci, or from a single provirus. We are testing this hypothesis through a genetic approach by (1) the identification of inherited HERV-K provirus(es) associated with individuals with a particular disease when compared to controls, or (2) detecting new HERV-K integrations in diseased tissues.

Publications

1. Jensen-Seaman MI, Wildschutte JH, Soto-Calderón ID, Anthony NM. 2009. A
   Comparative Approach Shows Differences in Patterns of Numt Insertion
   During Hominoid Evolution. J Mol Evol. 2009 [Epub ahead of print] May 27