Retroviral infection

Retroviral Infection

Retroviral infection (pronunciation: /ˌrɛtroʊˈvaɪrəl ɪnˈfɛkʃən/) is a type of viral infection caused by retroviruses.

Etymology

The term "retroviral" is derived from the Latin retro meaning "backward" and virus meaning "poison". This refers to the unique replication process of retroviruses, which involves the transcription of RNA into DNA, a process that is considered "backward" compared to the usual flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA.

Definition

A retroviral infection is an infection caused by a group of viruses known as retroviruses. These viruses are unique in their replication process, which involves the transcription of their RNA genome into DNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This DNA is then integrated into the host cell's genome, allowing the virus to hijack the cell's machinery to produce more viruses.

Related Terms

Reverse transcriptase: An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of DNA from an RNA template, a process known as reverse transcription.
RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a molecule similar to DNA that plays a crucial role in the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.
Viral replication: The process by which a virus makes copies of itself within a host cell.
Host cell: The cell that a virus infects and uses to replicate.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Retroviral infection
Wikipedia's article - Retroviral infection

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Retroviral infection