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proviral

proviral

1 9.3
Relating to virus genes inside a host cell
  • adjective
  • /proʊˈvaɪrəl/
  • Specialized
: proviral
  • Activation of the cell induces transcription of proviral DNA into messenger RNA.
  • proviral DNA

Examples

  • As I suggested earlier, proviral DNA from several different retroviruses comprises roughly 8 percent of the human genome.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Quantitation of HIV-1 proviral DNA was performed by a similar quantitative competitive PCR.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Whereas proviral DNA and gut biopsies on the right in the controls stay there.

  • Nevertheless, these legacy chunks of proviral DNA are still partly functional within the human genome.

    Academic text (2005)
  • To do that, their proviral DNA could direct the host cell to make enough receptor-binding protein to fill, say, all the CD4 receptor sites on the surface of the host cell.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Unfortunately, none of the proviral DNA is closely enough related to HIV to interfere with the HIV binding site, and so we as a species remain susceptible to the AIDS virus.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The presence of proviral DNA in the host cell can influence the effectiveness of certain treatments.

  • Researchers discovered that the proviral DNA can remain dormant for years before becoming active.

  • Understanding how proviral elements integrate into the host genome is crucial for gene therapy.

Surface Forms

proviral positive

Morphology

proviral = provirus (semi-transparent) = pro + virus + al

The adjective is a standard formation from the technical noun 'provirus' plus '-al'.

Etymology

Proviral starts with pro- meaning 'before', as in prologue, and ends with virus, meaning 'virus'. So proviral describes a 'before the virus' form that lives quietly inside a cell, often becoming part of the cell's DNA.