lentivirus

noun

len·​ti·​vi·​rus ˌlen-tə-ˈvī-rəs 

: any of a genus (Lentivirus) of retroviruses (such as the HIVs and SIV) that cause slowly progressive often fatal human and animal diseases (such as AIDS)

Examples of lentivirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an instant, the lentivirus timeline stretched, and in the years since has kept growing. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 Sep. 2022

Once there, scientists will treat the cells with Bluebird’s gene therapy, made from a lentivirus that shuttles the beta-globin gene into the cells. — Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022

Another type of gene-delivering virus, or vector, has been implicated in cancers in clinical trials, but never a lentivirus. — Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, 11 Aug. 2021

Sen’s team tested its existing material on a different coronavirus strain that causes a respiratory illness in pigs and on an unrelated type of pathogen called a lentivirus. — Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 24 June 2020

Given that the transmissions between the cat species are so frequent, the lentivirus may eventually mutate enough to find the mountain lions habitable, but so far that hasn’t happened despite many opportunities. — Quanta Magazine, 13 Sep. 2017

VandeWoude studies lentiviruses — a type of retrovirus that includes HIV — in mountain lions and bobcats. — Quanta Magazine, 13 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin lentus slow + New Latin virus

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lentivirus

• antivirus
• herpesvirus
• parvovirus
• reovirus
• retrovirus
• rhinovirus
• rotavirus
• adenovirus
• baculovirus
• coronavirus
• enterovirus
• poliovirus

Medical Definition

lentivirus

noun

len·​ti·​vi·​rus ˈlen-tə-ˌvī-rəs 

1

Lentivirus : a genus of single-stranded RNA viruses (such as HIV and SIV) of the family Retroviridae that cause progressive often fatal human and animal diseases (such as AIDS, equine infectious anemia, and ovine progressive pneumonia)

2

: any virus of the genus Lentivirus

lentiviral

-rəl 

adjective