New Hot Paper Comment by Didier Trono

Didier Trono answers a few questions about this month's new hot paper in the field of Microbiology.

From •>>September 2004

Field: Microbiology
Article Title: Broad antiretroviral defence by human APOBEC3G through lethal editing of nascent reverse transcripts
Authors: Mangeat, B;Turelli, P;Caron, G;Friedli, M;Perrin, L;Trono, D
Journal: NATURE
Volume: 424
Page: 99-103
Year: JUL 3 2003
* Univ Geneva, Dept Genet & Microbiol, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
* Univ Geneva, Dept Genet & Microbiol, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
* Univ Geneva, Dept Med, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
* Univ Geneva, Frontiers Genet Res Program, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.

Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

Because it describes an as-yet-unsuspected mechanism by which human cells are protected against invasion by exogenous genetic elements such as retroviruses.

Does it describe a new discovery or new methodology that's useful to others?

Yes, albeit a discovery rather than a technique.

Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

This paper reveals an as-yet-unsuspected line of defense that protects humans and likely other mammals against retroviruses, the family of viruses that comprises HIV. This latter pathogen has unfortunately evolved to overcome this obstacle, but many potential invaders are kept away by this form of "innate" immunity.

How did you become involved in this research?

Through my interest in HIV and its ability to overcome host defenses.

Didier Trono, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland

ESI Special Topics, September 2004
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/nhp/2004/september-04-DidierTrono.html