The Editors of Mobile DNA and Retrovirology extend an invitation to submit original research articles related to endogenous retroviruses to their new collection: Endogenous Retroviruses in Evolution and Disease.
Retroviruses are characterized by their replication strategy which entails a step in which the viral genome is integrated into that of the host cell. Because of this, retroviruses uniquely straddle the world of viruses and the world of mobile genetic elements. Retroviral 'genome invasions' - in which horizontally transmitted retroviruses evolved to become vertically inherited 'endogenous retroviruses' - have occurred repeatedly during evolution, and have profoundly influenced the evolution of animal genomes.
The hundreds of thousands of endogenous retrovirus sequences scattered throughout animal genomes are a rich source of information about the history of co-evolutionary interaction between retroviruses and their hosts. These sequences allow unique insight into the biology of ancient viruses and the mechanisms through which mobile elements influence genome evolution and disease.
All manuscripts accepted from this Call for Papers will be included in a unique online article collection, further highlighting this important topic. The article collection will also include specially commissioned Review articles related to the topic.
Manuscripts will undergo normal peer review as they are received. Manuscripts will be published online, both to the Collection and on the website of the journal to which they were submitted, as they are accepted.
Open for submissions: May 24, 2019
Submit an article to Mobile DNA for the series.
