Latent Infection

∞ generated and posted on 2020.12.16 ∞

Viral infection that at a given time is not associated with virion production but which at a later time could be.

Latent infections are associated with pathogens, typically viruses, that are able to enter states in which replication either does not occur or does occur but with minimal expression of genes.

See also lysogenic cycle, which is a latent infection by bacteriophages.