A novel exogenous retrovirus sequence identified in humans

A 932-bp retrovirus sequence was cloned by reverse transcriptase PCR from salivary gland tissue of a patient with Sjogren's syndrome. The sequence is related to that of type B and type D retroviruses and was present in a sucrose density gradient fraction corresponding to that of an enveloped retrovirus particle. Sequences amplified from tissues of eight individuals with or without Sjogren's syndrome had over 90% similarity and were present at a level of less than one copy per 10(3) cells. The sequence was not detectable in human genomic DNA by PCR or by Southern hybridization. These data indicate that the sequence represents an infectiously acquired genome, provisionally called human retrovirus 5.