Molecular Biology: Open Access

William Simmons

Publications

• Review Article
  The Role of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV-K) in the Pathogenesis of Human Cancers
  Author(s): William SimmonsWilliam Simmons
  
  Transmission of oncogenic retroviruses demonstrated in 1908. Much work was done around that period since by other researchers who demonstrated transfer of Sarcoma in chickens through filtrates. Although the name ‘retroviruses’ was coined as late as 1974, retroviral diseases were distinguished much earlier. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are natural components of the human genome and are considered remnants of ancient germ line infections by exogenous retroviruses. The human genome sequencing project revealed that 8 to 9% of the human genome is of retroviral origin. About 800 of these elements (class II HERVs) are beta-retrovirus-like and therefore distantly related to exogenous MMTV (an accepted aetiological agent for mammary tumour in mice). The majority of HERVs are noninfectious and replication-defective retroviral fossils. Some members of each HERV family howeve.. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2168-9547.1000169

  Abstract PDF