Considering endogenous retroviruses present in mammalian species in environmental risk assessment

COGEM had a literature study carried out to gain more insight in the possible environmental risk associated with the presence of so-called ‘endogenous retroviruses’ (ERVs) in the DNA of humane and animal cells in biomedical research. ERVs are DNA sequences which during evolution have ended up in the DNA of animals and humans. The resulting report, written by Perseus BV, offers an overview of the current scientific knowledge on ERV’s and provides information on how ERV’s can be activated, which protein products are formed in this process and which environmental risks are associated.

The report is titled Considering endogenous retroviruses present in mammalian species in environmental risk assessment. A review of scientific information on endogenous retroviruses in respect to their risk for human health and environment during production and use of genetically modified organisms (CGM 2024-03).