ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Retroviridae 2021

J Gen Virol. 2021 Dec;102(12):001712. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001712.

Abstract

Viruses in the family Retroviridae are found in a wide variety of vertebrate hosts. Enveloped virions are 80-100 nm in diameter with an inner core containing the viral genome and replicative enzymes. Core morphology is often characteristic for viruses within the same genus. Replication involves reverse transcription and integration into host cell DNA, resulting in a provirus. Integration into germline cells can result in a heritable provirus known as an endogenous retrovirus. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Retroviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/retroviridae.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; ICTV Report; Retroviridae; taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Viruses / classification*
  • DNA Viruses / genetics
  • DNA Viruses / physiology
  • DNA Viruses / ultrastructure
  • Genome, Viral
  • Host Specificity
  • Retroviridae / classification*
  • Retroviridae / genetics
  • Retroviridae / physiology
  • Retroviridae / ultrastructure
  • Vertebrates / virology
  • Virion / ultrastructure
  • Virus Replication