Evaluation of the potential risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection in nude mice
Bae, E.H.; Jung, Y.-T.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 21(4): 387-390
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1738-8872 PMID: 21532322 Document Number: 652888
Nude mice (BALB/c) were grafted with human 293 cells and PERV (porcine endogenous retrovirus)-IRES-EGFP (a packageable retroviral vector plasmid containing an internal ribosome entry site-enhanced green fluorescent protein)-producing pig PK15 cells in order to determine whether the pig cells could transmit PERV-IRES-EGFP to mice and human 293 cells in vivo. None of the transplanted human 293 cell lines were infected by PERV, but PCR analysis identified PERV-B provirus integration into both the heart and salivary gland of the inoculated nude mice. Our data indicate that hearts and salivary glands can be used to identify PERV-B receptors.