Stealth Adaptation of Viruses: Review and Updated Molecular Analysis on a Stealth Adapted African Green Monkey Simian Cytomegalovirus (SCMV)

The available DNA sequence data on an African green monkey simian cytomegalovirus virus (SCMV)-derived stealth adapted virus are summarized. The data provide important insight into a generic mechanism by which viruses avoid effective immunological recognition by the cellular immune system. This process is termed stealth adaptation and comprises the deletion or mutation of the relatively few virus components, which are normally directly targeted on virus infected cells by T lymphocytes. The sequence data also reveal the potential complexity of stealth adapted virus genomes resulting from genetic instability and also from the apparent involvement with replicating cellular and bacterial genes. Stealth adapted viruses, including those which presumptively originated from SCMV contaminated poliovirus vaccines, pose a serious threat to public health and can readily explain the increasing prevalence of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including autism, mental diseases and the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).