Retrovirus classification and cell interactions

Retroviruses cause a variety of diseases such as cancer, AIDS, autoimmunity and diseases of central nervous system, bone and joints. Some retroviruses are apparently harmless and some retroviral genomes are even inherited as host mendelian traits. Whereas oncoviruses generally have a low virus load, so that antiviral therapy would not greatly affect disease progression, lentiviruses like HIV have high load and turnover. The cell interactions of retroviruses largely determine their pathogenesis. Finally, retroviruses are being exploited therapeutically as vectors for gene therapy.