Positive Friends Home Page Think Positive!

HIV / AIDS

What is a retrovirus?

Most viruses consist of proteins and genetic material in their core, called DNA. When they reproduce themselves, they copy their own information in the form of RNA. Ultimately, it then forms new viral DNA. A retrovirus is a virus that contains RNA in it’s core, thereby working in the opposite direction (“retro”) than most other commonly-occurring viruses.

This question has been viewed 420 times so far.

Click Here to View all the questions in HIV / AIDS category.

Related Questions

1. What is AIDS?
2. How many people have AIDS?
3. Are Semen and Vaginal Secretions the only fluids that can carry the AIDS virus?
4. Are there medical treatments for people with HIV disease?
5. Are there any morning after pills to prevent transmission of AIDS in the case that a condom has broken?
6. Who is really at greatest risk for getting HIV?
7. How many people have HIV/AIDS?
8. Where can I get tested for HIV?
9. Can I get HIV from a blood transfusions?
10. For additional information about AIDS and HIV
11. Can I get HIV from kissing?
12. What can a pregnant woman do if she thinks she has been exposed to HIV?
13. Is there a cure for HIV and AIDS?
14. How easy is HIV to catch?
15. If I have HIV, can I get another STI?
16. What is the best way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV?
17. What are the symptoms of HIV?
18. Is HIV fatal for everyone who has it?
19. I’ve heard a lot of different things about HIV surviving outside the body. What is the truth?
20. How could I get HIV?
21. Are there other ways of testing for HIV?
22. Does having HIV mean my life can never be normal again?
23. Can I get HIV from performing oral sex?
24. Why are these called “opportunistic infections?”
25. How does HIV lead to AIDS?
26. How do you prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users?
27. What medications are available for HIV?
28. What tests are available to see if someone is infected with HIV?
29. What are some of the common AIDS-defining conditions?
30. When are there symptoms?
31. Is there a difference between HIV and AIDS?
32. How can I tell if I have HIV?
33. How can I tell if someone has HIV?
34. If a woman living with HIV is pregnant, will the pregnancy affect the progression of her HIV disease? What about passing it to the fetus?
35. Should I be tested?
36. What if I have HIV?
37. Can I get HIV from mosquitoes?
38. Can I get HIV by donating blood?
39. What is HIV?
40. Does this mean that everyone infected with HIV is going to die from it?
41. Are any tests available for someone who already knows they are infected with HIV?
42. What does HIV do?
43. How can I avoid getting HIV?
44. If someone is infected with HIV but they do not get sick from it, can they still transmit it to others?