Data scadenza invio manoscritto	10/12/2021
Nome rivista	Biology (MDPI)
Link a sito della rivista	https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biology
Impact factor della rivista	3.796
Guest Editor socio SIMGBM e eventuali Co-editors	Nicole Grandi (leading guest editor), Enzo Tramontano (co-guest editor)
Titolo della Special Issue	Endogenous Retroviruses: Contribution to Human Evolution and Physiopathology
Breve descrizione della Special issue (max 200 caratteri in inglese)	A growing body of evidence indicates that evolutionary interaction with endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) has played a fundamental role in shaping mammalian evolution. For example, ERV-derived proteins and regulatory sequences have been shown to play a pivotal role in mammalian development, and several lines of evidence support a role for ERVs in the antiviral immunity evolution. Intriguingly, viral infection can trigger the expression of otherwise silenced ERV loci, suggesting that ERVs might serve as strategic orchestrators of antiviral defenses. ERVs are also considered possible drivers of pathological conditions, and it is likely that the loss of balance between the control of ERV expression and its domestication to the host physiology (e.g., in disorders characterized by immune and epigenetics dysregulation) can contribute to complex diseases. The post-genomic era provides unprecedented possibilities to investigate ERV contribution to mammalian development and physiopathology. Unfortunately, however, ERV research remains fraught with misconceptions and challenged by complications in dealing with highly repetitive sequences. This Special Issue aims to provide an updated survey of ERV interplay with the host biology, with particular attention to clarifying fundamental misconceptions and controversies regarding the evolutionary origins of ERVs in the human genome and their possible contributions to human evolution and pathogenesis.
Link alla pagina web della Special Issue	https://www.mdpi.com/si/64259