Question

A certain individual has been exposed to a retrovirus. Describe how you would determine whether the retrovirus has integrated into the individual’s genome and if so, whether the virulent genes are expressed.

Answer 1

Retroviruses are diagnosed by the presence of viral specific antibodies and by the clinical methods.

beside this PCR detects the retrovirus genome in infected cells.
we can also diagnosesd on the basis of condition of lymphocytes.

Endogenous viral genes expression have also been observed in human placentas and reproductive tissue of humans without any apparent human pathology.

viral genes make specific protein which are easily diagnosed by ELISA test through specific antibody.