Abstract
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is a newly identified gamma retrovirus and may be associated with prostate cancer- (PC) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Since its identification in 2006 and detection of polytropic murine lenkemia virus (MLV)-like sequences in CFS patients in 2010, several test methods including nucleic acid testing methods and serological assays have been developed for detection of XMRV and/or MLV-like sequences. However, these research assays have not yet been validated and evaluated due to the lack of well-characterized reference materials. Mouse DNA contamination should be carefully checked when testing human specimens in order to avoid false-positive detection of XMRV or MLV-like sequences.
Highlights
When Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) was first identified in prostate cancer- (PC) patients in 2006 [1], it did not get much public attention until a science paper published in 2009 reported its detection in a majority (67%) of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients and about 4% of healthy Americans [2]
When XMRV was first identified in PC patients in 2006 [1], it did not get much public attention until a science paper published in 2009 reported its detection in a majority (67%) of CFS patients and about 4% of healthy Americans [2]
The detection of polytropic murine lenkemia virus (MLV) in CFS patients suggested that XMRV may be only one of an apparent cluster of MLV-like viruses identified in patient specimens
Summary
When XMRV was first identified in PC patients in 2006 [1], it did not get much public attention until a science paper published in 2009 reported its detection in a majority (67%) of CFS patients and about 4% of healthy Americans [2]. If confirmed, it was thought that millions of persons worldwide may harbor the new virus and pose a serious concern to public health and the safety of blood transfusion and organ transplantation. These findings greatly stimulated the interest of scientists in academia and government agencies to address both public health and scientific concerns about the newly identified retrovirus and its possible association with human diseases. We describe and summarize the various testing methods and assays that have been employed for detection of XMRV and/or MLV-like virus infection in the studies that have been published until the present time
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