2025.06.12
Riboflavin transporter: Evidence of a role as entry receptor for chimpanzee endogenous retrovirus
A research group led by Professor Kazuo Nishigaki of the Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine has traced the explosive infection of an ancient retrovirus present in chimpanzees and elucidated its infection mechanism.
・The ancient chimpanzee retrovirus (CERV1: chimpanzee endogenous retrovirus 1) has caused explosive infections in primates over the past 10 million years.
・CERV1 infection and endogenization occurred in great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas) and Old World monkeys.
・The receptor for CERV1 infection is the riboflavin transporter.
・CERV1 and porcine endogenous retrovirus belong to the same viral interference group, providing important insights for human xenotransplantation.
- Division of Translational Research for One Medicine
- Ariko Miyake（Pathogenetic and Preventive Veterinary Science）
- Kazuo Nishigaki（Pathogenetic and Preventive Veterinary Science）
- Paper Title：Riboflavin transporter: Evidence of a role as entry receptor for chimpanzee endogenous retrovirus
- Publication：Virus Evolution
- D O I：https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/veaf031
- Author：Loai AbuEeda, Ariko Miyakea, Nashon Wanjala, Didik Pramono, Dimas Abdillah, Masanori Imamura, Masayuki Shimojima, Joachim Denner, Junna Kawasaki, Kazuo Nishigaki
- Affiliation：
・Loai AbuEed, Ariko Miyake, Nashon Wanjala, Didik Pramono, Dimas Abdillah, Masanori Imamura, Masayuki Shimojima, Joachim Denner, Junna Kawasaki, Kazuo Nishigaki
＜Research Inquiries＞
Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Kazuhiko Nishigaki
E-mail: kaz@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
＜Public Relations Inquiries＞
Yamaguchi University The Research Institute for Cell Design and Medical Science(Life Science Support Section, Academic Research Division)
Tel: 0836-85-3065
E-mail: sh088@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp