Open AccessSwitching Sides: How Endogenous Retroviruses Protect Us from Viral Infections
Author(s) -
Smitha Srinivasachar Badarinarayan,
Daniel Sauter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.02299-20
Subject(s) - biology , endogenous retrovirus , virology , immune system , endogeny , genetics , dna , genome , gene , endocrinology
Long disregarded as junk DNA or genomic dark matter, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have turned out to represent important components of the antiviral immune response. These remnants of once-infectious retroviruses not only regulate cellular immune activation, but may even directly target invading viral pathogens. In this Gem, we summarize mechanisms by which retroviral fossils protect us from viral infections. One focus will be on recent advances in the role of ERVs as regulators of antiviral gene expression.