Hyperactive endogenous retroviruses and their impact on the koala genome

考拉的数量急剧下降，普遍存在的考拉逆转录病毒（KoRV）与疾病密切相关。KoRV和其他研究较少的内源性逆转录病毒（ERV）在考拉的基因组中非常活跃，达到了从未在任何其他脊椎动物基因组中观察到的水平。这项研究将绘制来自其地理范围国家的考拉内的ERV整合位点，并使用长读基因组学方法来了解KoRV与其他ERV之间的联系，戏剧性的基因组重新布线对考拉的影响，以及抑制ERV活性和减轻疾病的基因组免疫机制。研究结果将为病毒和宿主之间正在进行的军备竞赛提供见解，并为保护标志性物种提供信息。

Koala populations are in steep decline with the ubiquitous koala retrovirus (KoRV) strongly linked with disease. KoRV and other less studied endogenous retrovirus (ERVs) are extremely active within the genome of koalas to a level never observed in any other vertebrate genome. This study will map ERV integration sites within koalas from across their geographic range country and use long-read genomics approaches to understand the link between KoRV and other ERVs, the impact on koala caused by dramatic genomic rewiring, and the mechanisms of genomic immunity which supress ERV activity and mitigate disease. Findings will provide insights into the ongoing arms race between virus and host and inform conservation of an iconic species.