Errantivirus Metavirus Metaviridae is a family of viruses which exist as Ty3-gypsy LTR retrotransposons in a eukaryotic host's genome.

This includes genes that encode reverse transcriptase, integrase, and capsid proteins.

[2] Some assembled virus-like particles of members of the family Metaviridae can penetrate and infect previously uninfected cells.

The ability to infect other cells is determined by the presence of the retroviral env genes which encode coat proteins.

Viruses of this family proliferate through intermediates called virus-like particles known for their ability to induce mutations and genome sequencing.