Rearranged and chimaeric primate polyomavirus genomes.

Recombination between different primate polyomavirus genomes (SV40, JCV, BKV) or within the genome of the same species (e.g. archetype to rearranged type virus) might contribute to the establishment of SV40-like viruses within the human population. Alternatively, it is possible that these polyomaviruses might, upon co-infection of human cells, complement each other's growth through direct virus-virus interactions or by indirect effects on host cell permissiveness. Our laboratory has investigated the activity of JCV-BKV-SV40 chimaeras constructed in vitro, and some of them exhibit altered lytic, host range, and oncogenic behaviour. Our work has also included the PCR analysis of human tissue specimens for the presence of polyomaviral sequences. Archetype and rearranged variants of JC virus have been detected in normal and diseased tissues, but evidence for naturally arising JCV-BKV or JCV-SV40 recombinant genomes has not been obtained.