Murine Leukemia Viruses: Biology and Replication

[Jemal]

Not about XMRV specifically, but the family of MLV's.

Murine Leukemia Viruses: Biology and Replication

Alan Rein
Received 3 June 2011; Accepted 25 July 2011

Academic Editor: Arifa S. Khan

Concluding Remarks
It is clear that MLVs have provided an extraordinary wealth of information about retroviruses, both as physical objects and as living organisms. They (and other gammaretroviruses, such as gibbon ape leukemia virus) are now being developed as vectors for gene-therapy. As has been indicated throughout this review, the contrasts with other retroviruses such as HIV-1 help to illustrate the range of possibilities by which viruses solve common problems. Finally, as with all viruses, MLVs provide a window into the black box, an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the cells and organisms that they infect. Indeed, many cellular proteins have been shown to participate in MLV replication; while this large topic is beyond the scope of this review, it is the focus of a fascinating review by Goff [122].

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/av/aip/403419/

 

[currer]

This paper has some nice diagrams at the end. The main text is bichemistry heavy though - a word of warning!

It closes with a reference to the development of MLVs as gene vectors, an innovation it treats as inevitable.

Does this seem wise to anyone, until we know whether "wild" mlvs are in the population?

Gene vectors are modified so that they cannot replicate, but if they meet an unmodified "wild" MLV in a cell they could recombine to become infectious again.
Not an inviting prospect.

 

[Jemal]

This paper has some nice diagrams at the end. The main text is bichemistry heavy though - a word of warning!

It closes with a reference to the development of MLVs as gene vectors, an innovation it treats as inevitable.

Does this seem wise to anyone, until we know whether "wild" mlvs are in the population?

Gene vectors are modified so that they cannot replicate, but if they meet an unmodified "wild" MLV in a cell they could recombine to become infectious again.
Not an inviting prospect.

No, it sounds insane.