Medical term:
retroviruses
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.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
ret·ro·vi·rus
(ret'rō-vī'rŭs),Any virus of the family Retroviridae.
Retroviruses are potent disease agents, but they have also served as invaluable research tools in molecular biology. In 1979, the molecular biologist Richard Mulligan used a genetically altered retrovirus to trigger the production of hemoglobin in vitro by monkey kidney cells. His technique for using retroviruses to import alien genes into cells has been widely adopted. Medical researchers have also explored retroviral transport as a means of gene therapy. However, evidence suggesting that retroviruses may play a role in carcinogenesis raises questions as to the safety of their use in gene therapy. see oncogene.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
retrovirus
(rĕt′rō-vī′rəs, rĕt′rə-vī′-)n. pl. retrovi·ruses
Any of a family of viruses, many of which produce tumors, that contain RNA and reverse transcriptase, including HIV.
ret′ro·vi′ral adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
ret·ro·vi·rus
(ret'rō-vī'rŭs)Any virus of the family Retroviridae. A virus with RNA core genetic material; requires the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into proviral DNA.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
retrovirus
A virus with a GENOME consisting of a single strand of RNA from which DUPLEX DNA is synthesized under the catalytic influence of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This is the reverse of the much more common DNA to RNA process. The AIDS virus HIV is a retrovirus.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
retrovirus
an RNA VIRUS that infects animal CELLS and replicates by first being converted to double-stranded DNA, with the ENZYME REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE. (Retroviruses are so called because the information flows from RNA to DNA.) The DNA copy of the RNA GENOME so formed integrates into the host's DNA. There is a number of groups of retroviruses, including the spumaviruses, for example the human foamy virus; the lentiviruses, for example HIV; and the oncoviruses (RNA tumour viruses) which are divided into A-type, B-type, C-type and D-type.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
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
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ret·ro·vi·rus
(ret'rō-vī'rŭs)Any virus of the family Retroviridae. A virus with RNA core genetic material; requires the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into proviral DNA.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
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