Retroviridae (retrovirus)

Introduction

RNA viruses, 80-100 nm in diameter

Contains:

• an envelope
• 2 identical positive sense single-stranded RNA molecules

The viral RNA may undergo reverse transcription with incorporation of complementary DNA into the host genome

More general terms

• RNA virus
• oncogenic virus

More specific terms

• endogenous retrovirus
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) - bovine leukemia virus (BLV)
• lentivirus