| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2473390 | Current Opinion in Virology | 2012 | 9 Pages |
The discovery and de-discovery of the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been a tumultuous roller-coaster ride for scientists and patients. The initial associations of XMRV with chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer, while providing much hope and optimism, have now been discredited and/or retracted following overwhelming evidence that (1) numerous patient cohorts from around the world are XMRV-negative, (2) the initial reports of XMRV-positive patients were due to contamination with mouse DNA, XMRV plasmid DNA, or virus from the 22Rv1 cell line and (3) XMRV is a laboratory-derived virus generated in the mid 1990s through recombination during passage of a prostate tumor xenograft in immuno-compromised mice. While these developments are disappointing to scientists and patients, they provide a valuable road map of potential pitfalls to the would-be microbe hunters.
► XMRV is a laboratory-derived virus. ► Mouse DNA contamination is abundant. ► XMRV is not linked to CFS or prostate cancer. ► No evidence of XMRV infection in humans.
