False claims that XMRV is a laboratory contaminant

Critique of Hue et al.:

Hue et al claim that their PCR primers were specific to XMRV. This claim is false (Urisman et al, 2006; Dong et al, 2007)

Hue et al claim that there is no significant variation between the viral sequences isolated from patients. This is a false claim. Fully sequenced clones from two patients display a 2% sequence variation. The gag sequences isolated from other patients show considerable variation (despite containing the characteristic 24 bp deletion in glycogag) and polymorphism. The same is true of pol sequences (Urisman et al, 2006).

Hue et al have underestimated the sequence variability in fully assembled clones by 100% (Urisman et al, 2006).

Hue et al claim that the X-MLV-like sequence in 22RV1 cell lines is a clone. This is a false claim. The virus expressed by the 22RV1 cell line is XMRV (Knouff et al, 2009).

Hue et al claim that the sequences of XMRV expressed in the 22RV1 cell line are ancestral to the sequences found in XMRV sequences recently found in prostate cancer patients. This claim is true.

Hue et al claim that this is clear evidence that XMRV is a laboratory contaminant. This claim is false. The 22RV1 cell line originated in ... Read more>>