Secret Weapon of Retroviruses That Cause Cancer

Oncogenic **retroviruses** are a particular family of viruses that can cause some types of cancer. Thierry Heidmann and his colleagues in the CNRS-Institut Gustave Roussy-Université Paris Sud 11 "Rétrovirus endogènes et éléments rétroïdes des eucaryotes supérieurs" Laboratory have studied these viruses. They have identified a **"virulence factor"** that inhibits the host immune response and allows the virus to spread throughout the body. This factor is a sequence of amino acids that is located in the envelope protein of the virus. More on "Sciencedaily.com":[ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100215130341.htm]

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