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retrovirus

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retrovirus

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Also known as Retroviridae

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

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.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

Family

  1. FamilyRetroviridae

Retroviren (Retroviridae) sind eine große Familie behüllter Viren mit Einzel(+)-strängigem-RNA-Genom, deren Erbinformation (ss(+)-RNA) dementsprechend in Form von Ribonukleinsäure vorliegt. Anders als bei „normalen“ RNA-Viren aber muss die RNA von Retroviren zunächst einmal mittels reverser Transkription in ein DNA-Molekül umgeschrieben werden, bevor sie als solches in das Genom der Wirtszelle eingebaut und dort aktiv werden kann. Retroviren können grob in einfache und komplexe Retroviren unterteilt werden. Des Weiteren unterscheidet man zwischen infektiösen exogenen Retroviren (teilweise mit XRV abgekürzt) und den endogenen Retroviren (ERV), die vertikal über die Keimbahn vererbt werden und auf diese Weise Bestandteil des Wirtszell-Genoms werden. Retroviren infizieren vornehmlich tierische Zellen und sind bei Wirbeltieren allgegenwärtig: Sie infizieren Säugetiere, Vögel, Amphibien, Reptilien und Fische, sind dabei aber meist sehr wirtsspezifisch. Zu ihnen gehören die Erreger einiger weit verbreiteter Infektionskrankheiten, die sowohl bei Menschen als auch bei Tieren pandemisch bzw. epidemisch auftreten. Als Auslöser von Krankheiten beim Menschen sind unter anderem HIV und HTLV-1 b

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Wikidata facts

Image
HIV-budding.jpg
Show 3 more facts
taxon common name
retrovirus
taxon name
Retroviridae
Commons category
Retroviridae
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~24 min read

Article

19 sections
Contents
  • 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.

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