Metaviridae

Metavirus Errantivirus

“”Metaviridae”” are a family of viruses which exist as retrotransposons in a eukaryotic host’s genome. They are very closely related to Retroviruses: Metaviridae share many genomic elements with retroviruses, including length, organization and genes themselves. This includes genes that encode Reverse transcriptase,, Integrase and Capsid proteins. The reverse transcriptase and integrase proteins are needed for the retrotransposon activity of the virus. In some cases, virus-like particles can be formed from capsid proteins.

Some assembled Metaviridae particles can penetrate and infect previously uninfected cells. An example of this is the gypsy, a retroelement found on “Drosophila melanogaster” genomes. The ability to infect other cells in determined by the presence of the retroviral env genes which encode coat proteins.

Metaviridae are split into the following genera:
 * Genus Metavirus; type species: Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ty3 virus
 * Genus Errantivirus; type species: Drosophila melanogaster gypsy virus
 * Genus Semotivirus , type species: Ascaris lumbricoides Tas virus