What is the difference between Adenovirus and Retrovirus?

Adenovirus is a type of double-stranded DNA virus. It is icosahedral in nature, and it is also a naked, non enveloped virus. It is the largest of the non-enveloped viruses. Adenovirus affects both dividing and non-dividing cells. Adenovirus is associated with respiratory tract infection: eye infections, cough, intestinal infections, and the common cold.

Retrovirus, on the other hand, is a type of positive single-stranded RNA virus with an envelope that acts as a protective coat that protects the genome, acts as entry and attachment to a cell. Retrovirus only affects dividing cells. It has an enzyme known as Reverse transcriptase, also called RNA-directed DNA polymerase. This enzyme catalyzes the transcription of RNA to DNA. Retrovirus is properly known to be the cause of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

There are various types of viruses that are being explored right now in the world two of which are adenovirus and retrovirus. When you say adenovirus, this is the type of virus that comes with a double-stranded genome.

The retrovirus, on the other hand, comes with a positive-sense RNA. These two types of viruses will have the ability to infect humans. Take note that since they are parasites, they may not immediately be detected or they will be a bit hard to eradicate from the body. The structure of the two is also going to be different from each other. The adenovirus will not have an envelope while in the retrovirus, there is going to be a prominent envelope.