Virus Genes最新文献

{"title":"VP1 molecular evolution of type 2 immunodeficiency-related vaccine-derived polioviruses (iVDPV2) in a patient with primary immunodeficiency disease (PID).","authors":"Ahmad Nejati, Farshad Khodakhah, Parastoo Soheili, Maryam Yousefi, Yaghoob Mollaei-Kandelous, Maryam Keyvanlou, Mohammad Razaghi, Delaram Yaghoubzadeh, Seyed Mohsen Zahraei, Sussan Mahmoudi, Shohreh Shahmahmoodi","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02214-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02214-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) arising after use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) are an important impediment to the polio endgame, particularly in settings with low population immunity or prolonged infections in immunodeficient individuals.If immunocompromised individuals such as patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) receive OPV, the live attenuated vaccine virus will replicate in their intestinal tract and chronically shed in the stool. Long-term proliferation of the vaccine virus in the enteric cells of the PID patients causes several mutations, which eventually culminates in the emergence of immunodeficiency-associated VDPVs (iVDPVs). Therefore, screening the PID patients for poliovirus excretion is of great importance during the last years of polio eradication.During the above-mentioned screening, Iran National Polio Laboratory detected iVDPV2 in a PID case who was suffering from severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). To meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and protocols, the lab received several follow-up stool specimens from the patient to check whether the patient was continuously shedding or cleared the mutated poliovirus, i.e., iVDPV2. All the follow-up specimens were positive for iVDPV2.The aim of this study is to investigate the genomic and amino acid changes in 24 sequential iVDPV2 isolates from the mentioned PID excretor during a 108-month period.Complete sequences of VP1 region of the genome of the isolated iVDPV2 were analyzed. The VP1 was amplified by one-step RT-PCR and the PCR product was purified. Then, the purified PCR product was sequenced using at least 4 sequencing bidirectional primers by Sanger sequencing method. The raw sequences were edited and assembled with Sequencher 5.4.6 software. Finally, after alignment and translation, phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparing to the reference strain, Sabin OPV2, using Geneious Prime software.The result of this study showed that out of 903 nucleotide positions in the VP1, 86 positions had substitutions (85% transition and 15% transversion). The estimated mutation rate was 1.0% per year. In total, 824 mutations were occurred in 108 months. The percentage of ambiguous nucleotide changes ranged from 3 to 70%, indicating high quasi-species diversity in iVDPV2 isolates. Amino acid changes were observed in 19 positions. Significantly, a neuro-pathogenesis single mutation (I143T) was observed in all isolates. Additionally, the last twelve isolates had amino acid changes in the main antigenic site (between residues 94 and 99 of VP1). Phylogenetic tree showed two distinct lineages and four sub-lineages had emerged during the 108-month shedding of the iVDPV2.The results of this study showed that Sabin-like poliovirus vaccines are excreted for an extended period in PID patients and exhibit high genomic variation. These extensive genomic changes can transform the Sabin-like vaccine strain into a neurovirulent form capable of causing paralysis in non","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"167-176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146108428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of a new closterovirus infecting Ficus carica.","authors":"Juliana Osse de Souza, Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02216-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02216-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Figs (Ficus carica L.) are economically important worldwide, valued for both fruit production and ornamental purposes. Due to the widespread use of vegetative propagation, diverse viruses have accumulated in fig germplasm. To date, more than 14 viruses have been described associated to fig trees, including eight members of the family Closteroviridae, although their role in the etiology of fig mosaic disease (FMD) is unclear. Characteristic symptoms of FMD include mosaic and chlorotic spots on the leaves, along with deformation of fruits and leaves. Fig mosaic virus (FMV) is the causal agent of FMD, although at least five closteroviruses have also been associated with FMD, with unclear roles. In this study, leaf samples displaying typical FMD symptoms, including yellow mosaic and mottling, were collected from a fig tree in Iowa, United States. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Analysis of HTS data revealed contigs corresponding to FMV and a putative new member of the family Closteroviridae, tentatively named fig virus C (FiVC). Based on the HTS-derived sequence, we obtained the full-length genome of the putative new closterovirus using RT-PCR and RACE. The complete genome is approximately 17.8 kb long with open reading frames consistent with the genomic organization of closteroviruses. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, heat shock protein 70-like protein, and capsid protein corroborates that FiVC is a new member of the genus Closterovirus, closely related to other fig-infecting viruses. The discovery of this novel closterovirus in a symptomatic fig tree highlights the need for further studies to clarify the roles of multiple viruses in disease development.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"229-232"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146133540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of seronegative occult hepatitis C infection in blood donors and hospital patients from Argentina.","authors":"Yamila Martín, Kelly Alejandra Ramírez Ladino, Guido López, Estela Outon, Cecilia María Delfino","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02223-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02223-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>OCI is defined as the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in hepatocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the absence of HCV RNA in serum. Two types of OCI are distinguished based on the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibodies: seropositive and seronegative.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of seronegative OCI and identify its genotypes in blood donors (BDs) and hospital patients (HPs) from Argentina.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Peripheral blood and serum samples were collected from a total of 177 BDs and HPs. All individuals were non-reactive for HCV markers. The samples were analyzed by RT-nested-PCR. In addition, RT-qPCR was performed only on the serum samples. Other serological tests were conducted in all serum samples, and biochemical markers were realized only in Oci-positive serum samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen samples were OCI-positive by RT-qPCR in PBMCs, with an overall prevalence of 8.5%; it was 3.0% BDs and 11.7% HPs, respectively. Genotypes 2 and 3 were identified in all OCI sequences. None of the serum samples were RNA HCV positive. Moreover, two of the total OCI positive were HIV positive, and one had elevated liver enzyme levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study is being conducted for the first time in Argentina and sets a precedent regarding the presence of seronegative for OCI in these populations. Further research is needed in different populations and with a larger number of samples to understand the true prevalence of OCI in the country.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"259-264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147291820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular identification and Genogrouping of chicken infectious anaemia virus from commercial layer flocks of Gujarat, India.","authors":"Bhavesh R Pandor, Harshad C Chauhan, Kishan K Sharma, Sandip S Patel, Arun C Patel, Rohit S Parmar, Sushil K Mohapatra, Harsh A Patel, Akash K Thakore","doi":"10.1007/s11262-025-02211-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-025-02211-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study was conducted to ascertain the positive incidence, genogrouping, and amino acid variations in the VP1 gene of chicken infectious anaemia virus (CIAV) among layer flocks in Gujarat, India. A single pooled sample was collected from each of the 32 farms visited, all of which had a history and post-mortem lesions suggestive of chicken infectious anaemia (CIA) across five districts of the state. Samples were processed, and CIAV was confirmed by PCR targeting the VP3 gene and genogrouped. In histopathological examination, generalised lymphoid atrophy with prominent lymphocyte depletion was observed in both the cortex and medulla of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Out of the total 32 pooled tissue samples, 21 (65.63%) tested positive for the presence of CIAV. The effect of vaccination on disease prevention was found to be nonsignificant, as all five vaccinated flocks (100%) tested positive. Upon phylogenetic analysis, these isolates were found to be virulent and of genogroup IIIb (sub-clade G-II-b of clade G-II), but distant to strains of genogroup IIIa and II. The notable amino acid difference of C149M/E was similar to the change reported from South India in 2022. Amino acids were different from IIIa strains at V75I, L125I, K139Q, S287A, and G370S positions, Cux-1 vaccine at V157M, S287T, and G370S, and group I strains at L125I positions. The possession of virulence-determining amino acids, variations from vaccine strains and IIIa field strains, and divergence from other Indian strains might be the cause of escape from vaccinal immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"202-211"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145896891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surveillance reveals a prevalent pediatric A(H1N1)pdm09 virus with hemagglutinin substitutions S137P-R142K-V152I that diminish vaccine efficacy.","authors":"Lifeng Zhao, Jing Wang, Jihong Xu, Jiane Guo, Ping Zhang, Xiaofang Guo, Zhihong Zuo, Ruihong Gao, Li Gao, Jitao Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02218-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02218-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses pose a significant disease burden on children worldwide, with high rates of hospitalization and substantial morbidity and mortality. Outpatient < 18 years of age with upper respiratory infections (URIs) were enrolled through active surveillance at Shanxi Children's Hospital (SCH) between 7/1/2024 and 6/30/2025. Nasal swabs were collected for the detection of influenza virus and other respiratory pathogens by PCR-based methods. Influenza strains were obtained through in vitro culture, and their antigenic characterization were determined by hemagglutinin-inhibition (HI) assay. Genetic analyses were conducted using next-generation sequencing (NGS), while the fluorescence neuraminidase inhibition assay (FNIA) was employed to ascertain antiviral resistance. A total of 987 throat swab samples were collected. A(H1N1)pdm09 was the main pathogens causing URIs in children during the 2024-2025 influenza season and belongs to the 6B.1A.5a.2a evolutionary branch along with vaccine strains. Four novel HA and six NA non-synonymous substitutions were identified in pH1N1, which are related to antigenic drift and varying degrees of drug resistance, respectively. Three S137P-R142K-V152I-substituted strains were identified as low reactive strains, and strains with T188I, S247N, G249E, I264T, M314I, and K331R substitutions did not demonstrate a significant escalation in drug resistance. Despite the absence of drug-resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 strains in children, the emergence of low-response strains, attributable to mutations associated with antigen drift, necessitates continuous genomic monitoring to ensure preparedness for future seasonal influenza outbreaks.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"190-201"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146114776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment of a reverse genetics system for feline panleukopenia virus and feasibility study of a live vector vaccine.","authors":"Zhijie Li, Guangrong Zhao, Zihan Zhao, Hongye Li, Xue Bai","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02222-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02222-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A reverse genetics system for the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) strain JL2280 was successfully established in this study. By optimizing the cloning strategy for the terminal hairpin structures, a full-length infectious clone, pFPV, harboring a KpnI genetic marker was constructed. The recombinant virus (rFPV) was successfully rescued in CRFK cells and exhibited replication kinetics, pathogenicity, and morphological characteristics comparable to those of the wild-type virus.To evaluate the potential of FPV as a live vector, a recombinant virus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), designated rFPV-EGFP, was generated by inserting a P2A-EGFP cassette downstream of the NS1 gene. The rFPV-EGFP virus mediated efficient EGFP expression in infected cells; however, the fluorescence intensity gradually diminished with serial passages.The reverse genetics platform developed herein provides a valuable tool for investigating the genomic functions, pathogenic mechanisms, and evolution of FPV. Furthermore, the successful rescue of rFPV-EGFP demonstrates the preliminary feasibility of FPV as a live vector for foreign gene expression. Nevertheless, strategies such as optimizing insertion sites or modifying the viral backbone are required to enhance the stability of exogenous protein expression. This study lays the groundwork for the development of novel FPV-based genetically engineered vaccines and antiviral therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"221-228"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146167806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic study of miR-148a-3p-mediated AMPK/mTOR/S6-dependent autophagy in hepatitis B virus replication.","authors":"Juan Liu, Yuanji Sheng","doi":"10.1007/s11262-025-02201-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-025-02201-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver failure worldwide. Although miR-148a-3p has been implicated in liver pathophysiology, its specific role in HBV replication through autophagy-related signaling pathways is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-148a-3p on HBV transcription and replication, focusing on its regulation of AMPK/mTOR-dependent autophagy. HepG2.2.15 cells were transfected with miR-148a-3p mimics or inhibitors, with or without the AMPK agonist AICAR. HBV replication markers (pgRNA, HBsAg, HBeAg), autophagy-related proteins (LC3, p62, Beclin-1), and AMPK/mTOR/S6 pathway components were analyzed by Western blotting, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay at 12-72-h post-transfection. Overexpression of miR-148a-3p increased pgRNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg production (P < 0.01), enhanced autophagy as indicated by elevated Beclin-1 and LC3-II with reduced p62 (P < 0.01), activated AMPK, and inhibited mTOR and S6 phosphorylation (P < 0.01). In contrast, miR-148a-3p knockdown reduced HBV replication and autophagy, effects that were partially reversed by AICAR treatment (P < 0.01). miR-148a-3p promotes HBV transcription and replication by inducing autophagy via AMPK activation and mTOR/S6 suppression. These findings provide mechanistic insight into HBV pathogenesis and identify miR-148a-3p as a potential therapeutic target for regulating HBV replication and autophagy.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"157-166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First detection of a recombinant enterovirus G carrying a torovirus papain-like cysteine protease gene from India.","authors":"P M Sawant, M Lavania, Vikas Sharma, A Kulkarni","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02220-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02220-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Enterovirus G (EV-G) comprises 20 genotypes (G1-G20) associated with various disease conditions in pig populations. Recombination among homologous EV-G drives virus evolution; however, recombination with a virus from a heterologous family is a rare event. Currently, two types of recombinant EV-G strains containing torovirus papain-like cysteine protease (PLCP) at the 2C-3A junction (Type I) and in place of structural proteins (Type II) are reported. The present study was conducted to reveal the RNA virome in diarrheic piglet feces, retrieving the genome coding for a complete polyprotein of EV-G1. The detected EV-G1 strain represents the first Type I recombinant from India. The polyprotein of the strain exhibiting 97% amino acid identity was closely related to the Chinese strain. The molecular clock analysis estimated that EV-G1-PLCP likely emerged around 1989 in Japan (95% HPD), the inferred substitution rate in study strain was a mean evolutionary rate of 1.23 × 10⁻³ substitutions per site per year. Furthermore, the EV-G1-PLCP strain was found to originate from South Korean, Chinese, and Japanese strains with breakpoints at nucleotide (nt) positions 1323 and 4725. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of VP1 and PLCP of the study strain demonstrated its closeness to EV-G1-PLCP strains from South Korea KOR/KNU-1811/2018/G1-PLCP. The present study advances the knowledge about the genetic evolution of EV-G from gaining virulence genes from different virus families.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"251-258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146158405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the antiviral effects of Timosaponin BII on enterovirus A/B via network pharmacology and experimental validation.","authors":"Nana Du, Jing Chen, Yuwei Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11262-026-02217-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-026-02217-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Enterovirus A/B is a significant pathogen responsible for a wide range of human diseases. Currently, effective preventive and therapeutic strategies against these viruses remain limited. Timosaponin BII is the active ingredient of a natural product with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the antiviral activity of Timosaponin BII and elucidate its underlying mechanism, thereby providing a scientific basis for the development of novel broad-spectrum anti-enterovirus agent. Firstly, systems pharmacology approaches were employed to integrate the potential targets of Timosaponin BII and predict its mechanism of action. Subsequently, the antiviral activity against representative strains of enterovirus A/B (EV-A71 for enterovirus A and CVB3 for enterovirus B respectively) was verified through cell morphology observation and CCK-8 assay in interferon-deficient Vero cells. Finally, the inhibitory effect on viral replication was assessed using a time-course drug addition experiment in non-interferon-deficient HeLa cells, and the inhibitory effect on viral proteins was detected by Western Blot. Timosaponin BII exhibited significant antiviral activity against enterovirus A and B at the cellular level, with EC₅₀ values of 0.54 μM against EV-A71 and 2.59 μM against CVB3 at 48 h post-infection. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the levels of EV-A71 and CVB3 viral VP1 RNA in the group treated with Timosaponin BII simultaneously with viral infection were lower than those in the viral infection group. Western blot results showed that Timosaponin BII could reduce the expression level of viral protein. Timosaponin BII, a potential broad-spectrum antiviral agent, exhibits antiviral activity against EV-A71 and CVB3. Its antiviral mechanism may involve the synergistic interaction of multiple targets and signaling pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"177-189"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146127249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of homologous recombination in human retrovirus-associated diseases.","authors":"Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin, Zahra Farjami, Gabriel Eduardo Acevedo-Jiménez, Cecilia Rodríguez Murillo, Víctor David González-Fernández, Lucero de María Ávila-De la Vega, Hugo Ramírez Álvarez","doi":"10.1007/s11262-025-02210-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11262-025-02210-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human retroviruses such as HIV-1 and HTLV-1 hijack host cellular mechanisms for their replication, survival, and pathogenesis, often causing profound genomic instability. This review explores the dual role of homologous recombination (HR), explicitly mediated by the recombinase RAD51, in the context of retroviral infections. RAD51 is central to high-fidelity repair of DNA double-strand breaks, yet its activity is manipulated differently by HIV-1 and HTLV-1. In HIV-1 infection, RAD51 expression is elevated by viral proteins like Tat and Vpr, promoting DNA repair and enhancing viral transcription through interactions with NF-κB, thereby supporting viral persistence. Conversely, HTLV-1 suppresses RAD51-mediated HR via viral proteins such as p30 and Tax, promoting error-prone DNA repair pathways that contribute to oncogenesis. These contrasting effects may underscore RAD51's functional plasticity as both a facilitator of viral replication and a potential antiviral restriction factor. Furthermore, the therapeutic modulation of RAD51 activity-especially in combination with PARP inhibitors offers promising avenues for treating retrovirus-associated malignancies such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. This review highlights RAD51 as a pivotal connection in the interplay between genome stability and retroviral pathobiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":51212,"journal":{"name":"Virus Genes","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12881183/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145795642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}