Lentivirus is a genus within Retroviridae that includes HIV-1 and feline immunodeficiency virus. Members infect several mammalian host groups. Their virions characteristically have an internal core that appears bar-like or cone-shaped in structural observations.[ref]
Lentivirus report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Distinguishing features, Virion and Biology
The name covers a shared evolutionary grouping rather than one human disease. Primate lentiviruses use CD4 together with a chemokine receptor for recognition and entry; that statement is narrower than claiming that every member of the genus uses the same host receptor.[ref]
Lentivirus report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Distinguishing features
The genus illustrates complementary kinds of evidence. Electron microscopy reveals particle morphology, while genome comparisons examine sequence divergence and distinctive genetic features. The ICTV account describes species demarcation increasingly in terms of genome evidence, alongside historical criteria such as host range and antigenic properties.[ref]
Lentivirus report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Species demarcation criteria
A cone-shaped core can consequently be an informative structural observation without uniquely identifying a viral species. Conversely, sequence-based placement does not by itself measure the entry properties of a particle in a particular cell. Classification and functional characterization answer connected but different scientific questions.
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