A provirus is described as what?

• A. A virus that remains latent in the host genome
• B. A virus that immediately destroys host cells
• C. A bacterium that causes disease
• D. A prion particle

Answer: (A)

A provirus is viral DNA that becomes part of the host’s genome and stays there in a latent state. It isn’t producing new viruses right away; instead, it’s copied along with the host’s DNA whenever the cell divides, allowing the infection to persist quietly. Later, the provirus can be activated and begin making new viral particles. This latent, integrated form is what differentiates proviruses from viruses that immediately destroy host cells, from bacteria, or from prions. HIV and herpesviruses are real-world examples where the viral genome can reside in the host genome for long periods before reactivation.