RETROVIRUS

ASHIKA M
D3 BIOTECH
PROPERTIES
Retroviridae family
Enveloped, spherical viruses
Released by budding through host cell
membrane
~100 nm size
Genome consists of 2 identical, ssRNA
molecules
The icosahedral nucleocapsid core encloses
the helical ribonucleoprotein & is surrounded
by an envelope composed of glycoprotein &
lipid
 Characteristic feature presence of an unusual
enzyme RNA dependent DNA polymerase or reverse
transcriptase
Reverse transcriptase enzyme prepares a DNA copy of
the retro viral genome initially an RNA:DNA hybrid &
then its ds DNA form
The ds DNA form of the retroviral genome, called the
provirus, is integrated into the DNA of the infected
host cell
It is from the provirus that all retrovirus protein are
translated
Infection with oncogenic retroviruses does not lead to
cytolysis or death of infected cells but the provirus
remains integrated with the host cell DNA for the rest
of the life of the cell
CLASSIFICATION
While all oncogenic RNA viruses belong to the
family Retroviridae , all retroviruses are not
oncogenic
3 subfamilies
1. Oncovirinae all oncogenic RNA viruses
(formerly called oncornavirus)
2. Spumavirinae non oncogenic foamy viruses
causing asymtomatic infection in several animal
sp. & presenting as contaminants of primary cell
cultures in which they induce foamy degeneration
3. Lentivirinae viruses that cause slow infection
in humans & animals
 Based on host range & type of
disease caused:
1. The avian leukosis complex induce avian
leukosis or sarcoma in fowls (Rous sarcoma virus,
RSV)
2. Murine leukosis virus
3. Mammary tumour virus of mice it multiplies in
the mammary gland & is transmitted from mother
to offspring through breast milk
4. Leukosis-sarcoma viruses of other animals cat,
hamster , rat, guinea pig & monkey
5. Human T cell leukemia(lymphotropic) viruses
(HTLV) - infect T cell & HTLV infection is spread
through blood transfusion & transfer of leucocytes
 RETROVIRAL DISEASES
Malignancies
Myeloid leukemia ,erythroid leukemia
,lymphoid leukemia, Lymphoma ,Sarcoma
,mammary carcinoma
Haematological ,renal carcinoma
deficiencies
Aplastic anaemia ,haemolytic anaemia
,autoimmune disease,
immunodeficiency
Bone and joint disease
Osteopetrosis ,arthritisRetroviral diseases
Neurological disease
Peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy,
degeneration, dementia
Pulmonary disease
 HOST SPECIFICITY
Infects only one host species
The specificity being conditioned mainly by
the presence of viral receptors on the host cell
surface
Depending on the ability to grow in cells from
diff sp. They are classified into
1. Ecotropic multiply in cells of native host
species only
2. Amphotropic multiply in cells of native &
foreign sp.
3. Xenotropic- multiply only in cells of foreign
sp. But not of native host sp.
VIRUS TRANSMISSION
2 TYPES OF TRANSMISSION OCCUR
1. Exogenous horizontally , most oncogenic
viruses
2. Endogenous- vertically , from parent to
offspring, silent, do not form transformed cells
RESISTANCE
. Inactivated at 56c in 30 minutes, by mild
acids, ether & formalin
. Stable at -30c

ANTIGENS
2 TYPES
. Type specific glycoprotein Ag on the envelope
GENOMIC STRUCTURE
Relatively simple genomic structure
Provirus of a standard retrovirus consists of
3 genes required for viral replication
Gag , pol, env
Gag- codes for nucleocapsid core protein
which are group specific Ag
Pol- RNA dependent DNA polymerase
Env- envelope glycoprotein
 TREATMENT

Antiretroviral drugs are medications for the

treatment of infection by retroviruses,
primarily HIV. Different classes of
antiretroviral drugs act on different stages of
the HIV life cycle. Combination of several
(typically three or four) antiretroviral drugs is
known as highly active anti-retroviral therapy
(HAART).