retrovirus

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

[-vī′rəs]

Etymology: L, retro + virus

any of a family of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses containing the enzyme reverse transcriptase in the virion. The genetic information of the virus is stored in a molecule of single-stranded ribonucleic acid. After entering the target cell, the virus uses reverse transcriptase to direct the cell to make viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The DNA becomes integrated into the DNA of the host cell. Retroviruses are enveloped and assemble their capsids in the cytoplasm of the host cell. Retroviruses are used in laboratory research to import foreign DNA into a cell. They are transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, through exposure to infected blood or blood products, and perinatally from an infected mother to the child. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV1, HIV2), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a retrovirus. Other retroviruses include members of the Oncornaviridae family, such as human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2 which cause adult T-cell leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, tropical spastic paresis, and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy.

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retrovirus [ret´ro-vi″rus]

any member of a large family of RNA viruses that includes the lentiviruses and certain oncoviruses, given this name because they carry reverse transcriptase.

human endogenous r's (HERV) retroviruslike sequences found in the human genome, thought to constitute the remains of true retroviruses that were absorbed through evolution; at least one is thought to be linked to expression of tumor cells.

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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.