Virus Latency

**Definition:** The ability of a pathogenic virus to lie dormant within a cell (LATENT INFECTION). In eukaryotes, subsequent activation and viral replication is thought to be caused by extracellular stimulation of cellular transcription factors. Latency in bacteriophage is maintained by the expression of virally encoded repressors.

**Tree numbers:** - G06.920.900

**Synonyms:** - Viral Latency