lentiviruses

/ˈlɛntɪˌvaɪrəsɪz/
noun
  1. A group of slow-acting viruses that cause long-term infections, including HIV in humans.
    • Lentiviruses like HIV can remain in the body for years before causing symptoms.
    • Scientists study lentiviruses to understand how they evade the immune system.
    • Some lentiviruses are used in gene therapy to deliver healthy genes into cells.