Complete nucleotide sequence of a highly infectious avian leukosis virus

• Published in: Nucleic acids research Vol. 20; no. 2; p. 367
• Main Authors: Bieth, E, Darlix, J-L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 25.01.1992
• Subjects: avian leukosis virus
• ISSN: 0305-1048
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/20.2.367

Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) is unique in that it is the only retrovirus competent for both replication and in vitro cell transformation. Most strains of RSV also contain two types of viruses which are defective for either transformation (td) or replication (rd). The RSVtd present in stocks of RSV seem to be indistinguishable from avian leukosis viruses (ALV). These ALV viruses can function as helpers for rd viruses by providing gag, pol and env functions in trans. Furthermore, original stocks of avian (ALV, RSV), murine (MLV) and human (HIV) retroviruses have been shown to contain a wide variety of virus variants with limited or extended capabilities of replication. Here we report the complete nucleotide sequence of a highly infectious ALV of subgroup A (Genbank accession number M37980). A recombinant plasmid DNA containing the infectious ALV provirus (plasmid pLADI) was constructed and transfected into avian cells. ALV rapidly spreads in the cell culture and virus titer was as high as 10 super(5) iu/ml one day after transfection while that of RSV-PrC was less than 10 super(1) iu/ml.