retrovirus
Sign in to saveA retrovirus is a virus that inserts a DNA copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. After invading a host cell's cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome, the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro (backward). The new DNA is then incorporated into the host cell genome by an integrase enzyme, at which point the retroviral DNA is referred to as a provirus. The host cell then treats the viral DNA as part of its own genome, transcribing and translating the viral genes along
AI overview
A retrovirus is a virus that converts its RNA into DNA and inserts that DNA into a host cell's genome, permanently altering the cell's genetic instructions. This matters because once integrated into a cell, the virus's genes are copied along with the cell's own genes, allowing the virus to replicate and potentially cause serious diseases like HIV/AIDS.
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Article
19 sectionsContents
- Structure
- <span class="anchor" id="Genes"></span> Genomic structure
- Multiplication
- Recombination
- Transmission
- Provirus
- Early evolution
- Gene therapy
- Cancer
- Classification
- Exogenous
- Group VI viruses
- Group VII viruses
- Endogenous
- Treatment
- Treatment of veterinary retroviruses
- References
- Further reading
- External links
A retrovirus is a virus that inserts a DNA copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. After invading a host cell's cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome, the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro (backward). The new DNA is then incorporated into the host cell genome by an integrase enzyme, at which point the retroviral DNA is referred to as a provirus. The host cell then treats the viral DNA as part of its own genome, transcribing and translating the viral genes along with the cell's own genes, producing the proteins required to assemble new copies of the virus. Many retroviruses cause serious diseases in humans, other mammals, and birds.
Retroviruses have many subfamilies in three basic groups. Oncoretroviruses (cancer-causing retroviruses) include human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), causing a type of leukemia in humans, and murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) in mice. Lentiviruses (slow viruses) include HIV-1 and HIV-2, the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans. Spumaviruses (foamy viruses) are benign and not linked to any disease in humans or animals.