Integration and expression of murine retrovirus-related sequences in schistosomes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY: Antibodies against the retrovirus envelope glycoprotien (gp70) of mouse xenotropic retrovirus, BALB virus 2 (Bv2) reacted with the adult worms ofSchistosoma japonicumandS. mansoni. This reaction was completely inhibited after adsorption of the antibodies with virions of retrovirus. The reactive schistosome antigen was located in the subtegumental layer of the adult male fluke and in the vitelline gland of the adult female ofS. japonicumandS. mansoni. Proteins extracted from both parasites were examined by immunoblot analysis. Anti-Bv2 gp70 antiserum reacted with those proteins from both schistosomes and the band patterns were different among sexes and species. Southern hybridization of the DNA extracted from adults ofS. japonicumandS. mansonidemonstrated the presence of sequences homologous to theenvgene of mouse ecotropic and xenotropic retroviruses. DNA sequences homologous to thegagandpolregions of the ecotropic murine leukaemia virus were also detected in the DNAs of schistosomes