Isolation and characterization of infectious full-length DNA clones of chimpanzee foamy viruses SFV6 and SFV7: evidence for a Taf-dependent internal promoter.

We have cloned complete viral genomes directly from Hirt supernatant DNAs of simian foamy virus types 6 and 7 (SFV6 and SFV7) -infected cells. These clones were shown to be infectious by transfection into cells and subsequent infection of susceptible cells either by cocultivation or by passage of cell-free supernatants. The presence of virus particles, suggested by a typical cytopathic effect, was confirmed by electron microscopy. These viruses were characterized at different levels of the replication cycle. The proviral genomes revealed a taf deletion comparable to that previously described in the human foamy virus (HFV) bel1 gene. Analysis of viral RNAs revealed similar patterns of transcripts for SFV6- and SFV7-infected cells, with predominant expression of accessory genes. Characteristic major viral polypeptides were identified by radioimmunoprecipitation for both isolates. Sequences homologous to the gene encoding Taf and to a potential internal promoter were identified in the infectious clones and subcloned into expression vectors. Their functional properties were tested by transfection assays, which provided evidence for the presence of a Taf-dependent internal promoter in both SFV6 and SFV7 isolates.

Detection of HTLV-1 gag related sequences in leucocyte DNA from patients with polyendocrinopathies (Basedow-Graves' disease and insulin-dependent diabetes).

Relationships with retroviruses have recently been found in different human pathologies as autoimmune diseases which would be associated with the presence and eventually the expression of retroviral sequences. Detection of the presence of HTLV-1 and HIV-1 homologous sequences and their expression was realised on lymphocytes of 14 patients with polyendrocrinopathies (Basedow-Graves' disease and insulin-dependent diabetes) and four relatives of one index case. No antibodies to HTLV-1 and HIV-1 could be detected by Western blot and Elisa tests. HTLV-1 related sequences were revealed by Southern blot (SB) in 5 out of 18 subjects' DNA. Analyses of all DNA were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seven DNA, including the 5 previously positive in SB, and two relatives (father and grandfather), negative in SB, contained HTLV-1-gag related sequences, but neither pol nor pX regions. Concerning HIV-1, all 18 DNA examined were negative by both methods. DNA of ten clinically healthy donors were found to be negative with the same tests.