Retrovirus (redirected from Retroviridae proteins)

retrovirus /ret·ro·vi·rus/ (ret´ro-vi?rus) a large group of RNA viruses that includes the leukoviruses and lentiviruses; so called because they carry reverse transcriptase.

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ret·ro·vi·rus (rtr-vrs, rtr-v-)

n. pl. ret·ro·vi·rus·es

A virus of the family Retroviridae.

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Retrovirus

A family of RNA viruses containing a reverse transcriptase enzyme which allows the viruses' genetic information to become part of the genetic information of the host cell upon replication.

Mentioned in: AIDS, AIDS Tests, Antiretroviral Drugs, Antiviral Drugs, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

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retrovirus (ret´rōvīrus),

n a virus containing ribonucleic acid rather than deoxyribonucleic acid.

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retrovirus

a member of the family Retroviridae.

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defective retrovirus

a virus unable to replicate independently; commonly the result of loss of part of the envelope gene when leukosis viruses acquire an oncogene. Propagation is achieved by coinfection with a leukosis virus able to provide the envelope for the defective virus.

endogenous retrovirus

one transmitted in germ-line DNA from an infected parent to offspring.

exogenous retrovirus

one transmitted horizontally.

rapidly transforming retrovirus

characterized by rapid oncogenesis attributable to the v-onc gene which they carry.

slowly transforming retrovirus

weakly oncogencic after a long incubation period. They do not carry the v-onc gene.

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retrovirus Virology An RNA virus that encodes reverse transcriptase so that its RNA can be transcribed into DNA in a host cell; modified retroviruses are used as vectors to introduce genes–or portions thereof–of interest into eukaryotic cells. See Cloning vector, DNA, Eukaryote, Gene, HIV, HTLV, Reverse transcriptase, RNA, Rous sarcoma virus, Spumavirus, Transciption, Virus.