provirus

(noun)

A virus genome, such as HIV, that integrates itself into the DNA of a host cell so as to be passively replicated along with the host genome.

Related Terms

Examples of provirus in the following topics:

  • Double-Stranded RNA Viruses: Retroviruses

    • Once in the host's cell, the RNA strands undergo reverse transcription in the cytoplasm and are integrated into the host's genome, at which point the retroviral DNA is referred to as a provirus.
    • It is difficult to detect the virus until it has infected the host, where the provirus can stay for months, even years, before becoming active and making new infectious viral particles.
    • Their RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which is integrated into the host cell's genome (when it becomes a provirus), and then undergoes the usual transcription and translation processes to express the genes carried by the virus .

  • Retroviruses and Hepadnavirus

    • Once in the host's cell, the RNA strands undergo reverse transcription in the cytoplasm and are integrated into the host's genome, at which point the retroviral DNA is referred to as a provirus.
    • However, retroviruses function differently – their RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which is integrated into the host cell's genome (when it becomes a provirus), and then undergoes the usual transcription and translational processes to express the genes carried by the virus.

  • Viral Exit

    • The viral genome is then known as a "provirus" or, in the case of bacteriophages a "prophage. " Whenever the host divides, the viral genome is also replicated.
    • However, at some point, the provirus or prophage may give rise to active virus, which may lyse the host cells.

  • General Features of Virus Replication

    • The viral genome is then known as a provirus or, in the case of bacteriophages a prophage.
    • The viral genome is mostly silent within the host; however, at some point the provirus or prophage may give rise to active virus, which may lyse the host cells.

  • Viral Identification

    • Retroviruses integrate the DNA produced by reverse transcription into the host genome as a provirus as a part of the replication process.

  • Retroviral RNA Genome

    • U3 is a sequence between PPT and R, which has signal that provirus can use in transcription.

  • Replicative Cycle of HIV

    • During viral replication, the integrated DNA provirus is transcribed into mRNA, which is then spliced into smaller pieces.