Final answer:
Latent viruses remain dormant in a cell without causing symptoms, often integrating into the host genome. They can elude the immune system and only reactivate under certain conditions like stress, which is exemplified by herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Latency in Viruses
Viruses that are capable of existing in latent form within a host do so without causing symptoms or active replication. These latent viruses can stay dormant by becoming circular viral genome molecules outside of the host chromosome, or integrating as proviruses into the host genome. One well-known example is the herpes simplex virus, which can lie dormant in the nervous system for extended periods.
Other examples include the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and potentially shingles later in life, and the Epstein-Barr virus, linked to mononucleosis and potential B-cell lymphoma upon reactivation. This latency allows viruses to evade detection by the immune system and diagnostic tests, reactivating under conditions such as stress or immunosuppression.