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Acquisition of the human adeno-associated virus type-2 rep gene by human herpesvirus type-6

Nature volume 351, pages 78–80 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

HUMAN herpesvirus type-6 (HHV-6) is a recently isolated herpes-virus which is highly prevalent in adult populations around the world1–3. HHV-6 was first isolated from the peripheral blood of six individuals with lymphoproliferative disorders, two of whom were also infected with human immunodeficiency virus1. HHV-6, in common with other herpesviruses, transactivates the HIV long terminal repeat linked to reporter genes4,5 and has in addition been shown to accelerate HIV gene expression and CD4 cell death in cultures co-infected with both viruses6. The virus is tropic for CD4+ lymphocytes7,8 and persists in the peripheral blood of most seropositive individuals9. We have now identified a gene in HHV-6 encoding a 490-amino-acid polypeptide homologous to the human adeno-associated virus type-2 (AAV-2) rep gene10. This gene has an essential role in AAV-2 DNA replication11,12, can trans-regulate homologous and heterologous gene expression13–17, and inhibits cellular transformation18. The acquisition of rep by HHV-6 could be due to natural transfer of genetic information between DNA viruses of eukaryotes and is likely to have important consequences for the life-cycle of HHV-6 and for the host CD4 cell.

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Author notes

  1. Stacey Efstathiou: Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK

    Brian J. Thomson, Stacey Efstathiou & Robert W. Honess

Authors
  1. Brian J. Thomson
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  2. Stacey Efstathiou
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  3. Robert W. Honess
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Thomson, B., Efstathiou, S. & Honess, R. Acquisition of the human adeno-associated virus type-2 rep gene by human herpesvirus type-6. Nature 351, 78–80 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/351078a0

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