Human retroviruses, HIV and HTLV have been recognized as important pathogens because of their association with lethal diseases such as AIDS and ATL. Considerable resources and efforts have been directed at understanding the interaction between these retroviruses and their host which may provide clues as to how the infection can be controlled or prevented. Among the key scientific successes is the identification of intracellular “restriction factors” that have evolved as obstacles to the replication of pathogens including infectious retroviruses. The discovery of APOBEC, which are strong mutagens of retroviral genomes and intracellular retroelements, began a new era of intense research activities into the spectrum of intrinsic anti-HIV activity, leading to the identification of TRIM5a, BST2/Tetherin, and SAMHD1. In response, HIV has evolved several accessory genes as weaponries to evade these intracellular restriction activities. The intracellular antiretroviral defenses evolved in response to endogenous retroelements that make up more than 40% of the entire mammalian genome, and which are regarded as ancestors of infectious retroviruses. LTR-type retroelements are present in all higher eukaryotes, representing about 8% of the human genome. Non-LTR retroelements can be found at extremely high copy numbers also, with a significant portion of mammalin genomes consisting of LINEs. Mammalian genomes are modified by LINEs through insertions, but also by the indirect replication of non-autonomous retrotransposons such as SINEs. LINEs insertion was shown to have played, and continue to play important roles in genomic evolution and somatic genome mosaicism-mediated physiology. And, because retrotransposition can confer genetic diversity that is beneficial to the host, the vertebrate intrinsic immunity has evolved to support a balance between retroelement insertions that confer beneficial and those that cause deleterious gene disruptions. The articles published in this Research Topic should serve not only as valuable references for the field, but provide future topics of research for investigators that should further our understanding of the retrovirus, retroelements and their restrictions.

Retrovirus-Cell Interactions provides an up-to-date review of the interactions between retroviruses and the cells they infect, offering a comprehensive understanding of how retroviruses hijack cellular factors to facilitate virus replication. Drugs targeting viral enzymes have been developed to treat HIV; the next challenge is to inhibit virus-cell interactions as next generation treatment strategies. Organized according to the retrovirus' replication cycle, this book does not focus exclusively on HIV, but rather includes important findings in other retroviral systems, including animal retroviruses, retrotransposons, and endogenous retroelements to allow broad comparisons on important commonalities and differences. Provides a valuable starting point for people who want to develop a detailed understanding of retroviral replication Includes future-thinking strategies, such as next-generation treatment and anti-retroviral therapeutics Features important commonalities and differences among retroviral systems

For over 25 years the study of retroviruses has underpinned much of what is known about information transfer in cells and the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that underlie cell growth and cancer induction. Emergent diseases such as AIDS and adult T-cell lymphoma have widened even further the community of investigators directly concerned with retroviruses, a development that has highlighted the need for an integrated understanding of their biology and their unique association with host genomes. This remarkable volume satisfies that need. Written by a group of the field's most distinguished investigators, rigorously edited to provide a seamless narrative, and elegantly designed for clarity and readability, this book is an instant classic that demands attention from scientists and physicians studying retroviruses and the disorders in which they play a role.

This book will contain a series of review articles that focus on retroviral models of human and animal cancers. Each article will be written by an expert in the field of retrovirology. The reviews will summarize current work on a particular retrovirus, with particular emphasis on the relevance of this research to human disease.

Retroviruses and herpesviruses are two important human pathogens. Together, they occupy one of the most important places in modern Medical Virology. Coinfections of these two viruses in the same individuals are frequently observed, especially in patients afflicted with AIDS. Potential consequences of such interactions include the exacerbation of the disease, changing of the disease courses and the release of new viruses, etc. An understanding of the underlying mechanism is important, but, thus far, few insights have been gained. The present monograph, arranged in eight chapters, is intended to provide an updated and concise review of recent works regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of such interactions. The topics covered range from transcriptional regulation, receptor modulation, genetic recombination, to AIDS and oncogenesis. Human immunodeficiency virus, avian leukosis virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus-6 and Marek's disease virus are among the viruses discussed. The contributing authors are among the leaders in this field and are responsible for many of the original discoveries presented. This should serve as a valuable research and teaching reference for both beginning and advanced researchers in virology and oncology.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Recent Progress in Understanding the Mechanism and Consequences of Retrotransposon Movement" that was published in Viruses