BSE Infection Affects Retrovirus Expression in Macaque Brains
Author Information
Author(s): Alex D Greenwood, Michelle Vincendeau, Ann-Christin Schmädicke, Judith Montag, Wolfgang Seifarth, Dirk Motzkus
Primary Institution: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
Hypothesis
Does BSE infection alter endogenous retrovirus expression in the brains of cynomolgus macaques?
Conclusion
BSE infection leads to significant changes in the expression of endogenous retroviruses in the brains of cynomolgus macaques.
Supporting Evidence
- Class I gammaretroviruses HERV-E4-1, ERV-9, and MacERV-4 increased expression in BSE-infected macaques.
- Significant downregulation of macaque ERV-K-(HML-2) Gag protein and RNA was found in the frontal/parietal cortex of BSE-infected macaques.
- This study is the first to report differential expression of ERV-derived structural proteins in prion disorders.
Takeaway
When monkeys got sick from BSE, certain viruses in their brains acted differently, which might help us understand how prion diseases work.
Methodology
Cynomolgus macaques were infected with BSE and their brain tissues were analyzed for retrovirus expression using microarrays and quantitative PCR.
Potential Biases
Inter-individual variations among the macaques may affect the results due to their non-inbred genetic background.
Limitations
The control animals were not mock infected, which may influence the results.
Participant Demographics
Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), six infected and four healthy controls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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