RETROVIRIDAE

PROF. DR. MASOOD RABBANI

DIRECTOR
UNIVERSITY DIAGNOSTIC LAB
 A Little Retrovirus History (part I)
- Francis Peyton Rous discovered the first
retrovirus (cancer-causing chicken virus, RSV) in
1910.

- Won Nobel prize for the work in

1966 (at age 87).

Prior to ~1970:
Retroviruses were “RNA tumor viruses”
–Viruses able to cause cancer
–Had RNA genome
 KEY POINTS
 Latin word, Retro- means backward
 Enveloped, spherical, labile viruses
 Diploid: 2 linear +ve ssRNA
 Icosahederal capsid surround helical
nucleocapsid
 Possess reverse transcriptase which
transcribes viral RNA to double
stranded
 Retroviral Life Cycle

Early events:
from viral binding and entry
until the time the DNA copy of
the viral genome is integrated
into the host cell’s
chromosome

Late events:
From time when integrated
provirus is expressed until
virus has been released

6
virions are 80-100 nm in diameter
• gag - contains information to direct the synthesis
of internal virion proteins that form the matrix,
the capsid and the nucleoprotein structures
• pol - contains information for the reverse
transcriptase and integrase enzymes
• env - contains the information for building the
surface and transmembrane components of the
viral envelope protein
RETROVIRUSES OF VERTEBRATES
FAMILY GENUS TYPES SPECIES
Retroviridae Alpharetrovirus Avian Leukosis
Betaretrovirus Mouse Mammary
Tumour
Gammaretrovirus Murine Leukemia
Deltaretrovirus Bovine Leukemia
Epsilonretrovirus Walleye Dermal
Sarcoma
Lentivirus HIV- 1

Spumavirus Chimpanzee Foamy

Virus 1
 Retrovirus Classification
Genus Example Genome
Alpharetrovirus Avian leukemia virus Simple

Betaretrovirus Mouse mammary tumor virus Simple

Gammaretrovirus Murine leukemia virus Simple

Feline leukemia virus
Xenotropic murine leukemia-related virus

Deltaretrovirus Human T-cell leukemia virus Complex

Epsilonretrovirus Wall-eyed sarcoma virus Complex

Lentivirus HIV, SIV, Complex

Spumavirus Human foamy virus Complex

Metavirus Yeast TY-3

Errantvirus Drosophila melanogaster Gypsy
 Retroviral Structural genes
Gene Proteins Function
gag = group specific antigen (internal structural proteins)
matrix (MA), binds envelope, organization
capsid (CA), protects genome and enzymes
nucleocapsid (NC) chaperones RNA, buds

pol = polymerase enzymes

reverse transcriptase + RNA to DNA
RNAase H (RT) degrades template RNA
protease (PR) maturation of precursors
integrase (IN) provirus integration

env = envelope proteins

surface glycoprotein (SU) receptor binding
transmembrane protein (TM) virus-cell fusion

11
 DNA insert as provirus into host genome
 Mutation & recombination in ↑ frequency
 Family have 9 genera
 Lentiviruses: immunodeficiency diseases
 Spumaviruses: cell vacuolation in vitro &
no disease
 Remaining 5 induce neoplastic changes in
specific cell type
 DISEASES

• Avian Leukosis
• Feline Leukemia
• Enzootic Bovine leucosis
• Jaagsiekte
• Feline immunodeficiency
• Equine infectious anemia
• Maedi Visna
 AVIAN LEUKOSIS

• Neoplastic conditions in chickens

• Vertical & Horizontal transmission
through saliva & feces
• Incubation period more than 4 mo.
• Sporadic
 AVIAN LEUKOSIS- cont..
• Following infection, virus spread
through out body replicating in most
tissues
• Virus transforms B-cell as provirus
inducing cellular replication under
influence of viral LTR (long terminal
repeat) promoter
• Affected birds become in-appetent, pale
wattles, osteoporosis, ↓ hatchability &
growth rate
 DIAGNOSIS
• Tumor type on postmortem
• Histopathological findings
• ELISA
• PCR
 CONTROL

• Disease free or genetically

resistant stock
• Hygienic & effective management
practices
• Recombinant ALV & FPV vaccine,
efficient control