Endogenous Retroviruses From Madagascar Mouse Lemurs Is Similar To Other Mammals

Among the many lemur species in Madagascar, the mouse lemur is one of the many endemic species that make up its distinctive biodiversity. The viruses now exhibit characteristics similar to lemur genes and are referred to as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). The surprising relationship between some of the identified retroviruses and viruses found in other, very different mammals, like polar bears or domestic sheep, caught researchers off guard.