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Understanding Receptor Adaptation And Co-receptor Use For Feline Leukemia Viruses

Feline leukemia viruses (FeLVs) are pathogenic retroviruses of the domestic cat. FeLV transmission and emergence of pathogenic variants show striking similarity to HIV pathogenesis. The emergence of pathogenic subgroup-C FeLV from the transmitted subgroup-A FeLV coincides with a switch in host receptor used for infection as a result of mutations in the viral envelope protein (Env). I have characterized a novel FeLV Env that may represent an evolutionary intermediate between FeLV-A and FeLV-C.
I have also reported evidence suggesting that FeLVs may use co-factors/co-receptors for infection. I have found that FeLVs inefficiently infect murine NIH3T3 cells overexpressing FeLV receptors (NIH3T3/Receptor). I have provided evidence that the low infection is caused by a block at a post-binding but pre-entry stage of FeLV infection. Furthermore, fusion of NIH3T3/Receptor cells with highly susceptible cells rescues inhibition to infection suggesting that FeLVs, like HIV, may also use co-receptors for infection.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/17517
Date10 August 2009
CreatorsHussain, Naveen
ContributorsTailor, Chetankumar
Source SetsUniversity of Toronto
Languageen_ca
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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