Question Number: 176
PDR Number: SQ22-000183
Date Submitted: 24/02/2022
Department or Body: Department of Health
No. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the enveloped RNA virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not a retrovirus. Viruses are obligate intracellular mobile genetic elements.
Viruses have a core of either DNA or RNA genetic material which is covered in protein. Once in a cell, viruses use the cellular machinery to replicate (i.e., make more copies).
Retroviruses are a type of RNA virus in the viral family called Retroviridae. When a retrovirus infects a host cell, it makes a DNA copy of its genome (known as reverse transcription) that is inserted into the DNA of the host cell. The virus then uses the hosts cellular machinery to replicate.
There are a variety of different retroviruses that cause human diseases such as some forms of cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 is not a retrovirus, which means it does not need reverse transcription for its replication.
