Mechanisms of Cell Killing/Cytopathic Effects by Nonhuman Retroviruses

Retroviruses have been studied primarily for their role in cancer. However, with the AIDS epidemic, attention has shifted to the other effects of retroviral infection. In particular, since human immunodeficiency virus results in killing of CD4-positive T cells, there is interest in the mechanism of cell killing by retroviruses. Numerous other retroviruses are also cytopathic. Studies of these other retroviruses are reviewed in this article. In particular, the hypothesis that cell killing is the result of superinfection or other increased viral envelope protein-cell receptor interaction is suggested.