Replication of Retrovirus: Retroviruses are viruses with RNA as genetic material. They belong to the family Retroviridae of Retroviruses. Once it has infected a cell, it converts its RNA into DNA by reverse transcription. This viral DNA is then inserted into the DNA of the host cell where it starts replicating. For eg., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Replication of Retrovirus

• The virus first enters into the human body and attacks specific macrophages cells present in the human body.
• After infecting the cell the viral RNA core get incorporated inside the DNA of the host cell.
• The viral DNA is then produced by the process of reverse transcriptase.
• The viral DNA then incorporated into the genome of the host cell
• The virus particles then enter into the t-lymphocyte cells and starts to produce viral progenies.
• Then the new viral RNA is produced by the infected cell.
• After this new viruses are produced inside the cell and these new viruses starts to infect other cells.
• This is the proper sequence in which the retrovirus replicates into the human body and eventually makes the immune system weak due to which the body is unable to produce immune response against that disease.

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By Team Learning Mantras