Segregation, viral phenotype, and proviral structure of 23 avian leukosis virus inserts in the germ line of chickens

1989 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. Crittenden ◽  
D. W. Salter ◽  
M. J. Federspiel
Keyword(s):  
Germ Line ◽  
Avian Leukosis Virus ◽  
Viral Phenotype

scholarly journals Domestic chickens activate a piRNA defense against avian leukosis virus

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Huining Sun ◽  
Li Huitong Xie ◽  
Xiaoyu Zhuo ◽  
Qiang Chen ◽  
Dalia Ghoneim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Domestic Fowl ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Avian Leukosis Virus ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Poultry Industry ◽  
Genomic Locus ◽  
Know How

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) protect the germ line by targeting transposable elements (TEs) through the base-pair complementarity. We do not know how piRNAs co-evolve with TEs in chickens. Here we reported that all active TEs in the chicken germ line are targeted by piRNAs, and as TEs lose their activity, the corresponding piRNAs erode away. We observed de novo piRNA birth as host responds to a recent retroviral invasion. Avian leukosis virus (ALV) has endogenized prior to chicken domestication, remains infectious, and threatens poultry industry. Domestic fowl produce piRNAs targeting ALV from one ALV provirus that was known to render its host ALV resistant. This proviral locus does not produce piRNAs in undomesticated wild chickens. Our findings uncover rapid piRNA evolution reflecting contemporary TE activity, identify a new piRNA acquisition modality by activating a pre-existing genomic locus, and extend piRNA defense roles to include the period when endogenous retroviruses are still infectious.

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