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{{frontpage
|pagetitle =Retroviridae
|pagebody = Retroviruses are persistent, non-cytopathic, systemic viruses that give rise to secondary disease, such as tumors, immune-complex disease, or immunosuppression.
|contenttitle =Content
|contentbody =<big><b>
<categorytree mode=pages>Retroviridae</categorytree>
BLV-HTLV retroviruses
:''Bovine Leukosis Virus''
|logo =FeLV logo.jpg
}}
=Introduction=
==Morphology==
=Morphology=
*Fragile, enveloped RNA viruses with roughly spherical spike proteins
*Fragile, enveloped RNA viruses with roughly spherical spike proteins
*Genome has 3 genes:
*Genome has 3 genes:
*Both ends of genome show a promoter (LTR: long terminal repeat)
*Both ends of genome show a promoter (LTR: long terminal repeat)
=Antigenicity=
==Antigenicity==
*Group-specific antigens (gag's) are shared by all isolates of each virus
*Group-specific antigens (gag's) are shared by all isolates of each virus
**This can be exploited by diagnostic tests
**This can be exploited by diagnostic tests
*Lentiviruses show variation by mutation, making vaccination difficult
*Lentiviruses show variation by mutation, making vaccination difficult
=Virulence and Pathogenesis=
==Virulence and Pathogenesis==
*Replication involves integrating into the host cell genome:
*Replication involves integrating into the host cell genome:
**'''Uncoating''' to release RNA and RT
**'''Uncoating''' to release RNA and RT
**Insertion of the viral LTR switches on proto-oncogenes in the host cell genome --> tumor production can take years
**Insertion of the viral LTR switches on proto-oncogenes in the host cell genome --> tumor production can take years
[[Category:Viruses]]
[[Category:Viruses]]