Lentivirus vs. Retrovirus

Lentivirusnoun

Any of a group of retroviruses, of the genus Lentivirus, which have long incubation periods.

Lentivirus

Lentivirus is a genus of retroviruses that cause chronic and deadly diseases characterized by long incubation periods, in the human and other mammalian species. The best known lentivirus is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Lentiviruses are also hosted in apes, cows, goats, horses, cats, and sheep.

Retrovirusnoun

(virology) Any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell, thus changing the genome of that cell.

Retrovirusnoun

(computer security) A computer virus that seeks to attack antivirus programs in an attempt to avoid detection.

Retrovirusnoun

any of a group of viruses that contain two single-strand linear RNA molecules per virion and reverse transcriptase (RNA to DNA)

Retrovirus

A retrovirus is a type of virus that inserts a copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. Once inside the host cell's cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome, the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro (backwards).