Simple. Elegant. Deadly.
A retrovirus is composed of a few strands of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) enshrouded
in a protein coat. This simple configuration doesn't even meet the
minimal requirements to be called a living organism. Yet once it
invades the host creature it can subvert the cells to replicate itself
to exclusion of other cell functions and eventually destroy that cell
and the host creature it self. Some retroviruses invade their host and
lay dormant for sometime, even years, before activating. These are the
lentiviruses. HIV is a well known lentivirus.
Scientists are looking at retroviruses as means of delivering medications to ailing cells.
The Team
This TIP is created for LFSC 620 Molecular Genetics.
Spring 2006.
Content by:
- Sherry Lynn Bowen
- Andrea Lea Faecke Feia
- Timothy Arthur Floto
- Patrick Sean Kelly
- Mont Miller Linkenauger
- Patricia Sue Taylor
Web Design by Tim Floto