The diversity and evolution of retroviruses: Perspectives from viral fossils

Retroviruses exclusively infect vertebrates, causing a variety of diseases. The replication of retroviruses requires reverse transcription and integration into host genomes. When infecting germline cells, retroviruses become inherited vertically, forming endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). ERVs document past viral infections, providing molecular fossils for studying the evolutionary history of retroviruses. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the diversity and evolution of retroviruses from the perspectives of viral fossils, and discuss the effects of ERVs on the evolution of host biology.

Automated summary

In this review, recent advances in understanding the diversity and evolution of retroviruses are summarized from the perspective of viral fossils, with a focus on endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) as molecular fossils that document past viral infections, providing crucial insights into the evolutionary history of retroviruses .