FOAMY VIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Foamy viruses, also known as spumaviruses, are a family of retroviruses characterized by their unique morphology and replication cycle. They are distinct from other retroviruses, such as lentiviruses and oncoviruses. The name "foamy" is derived from the foamy appearance they produce when grown in cell cultures.
Foamy viruses are enveloped viruses with a genetic material composed of RNA. They possess a characteristic protein coat with club-shaped protrusions on their surface. These viruses primarily infect animals, including monkeys, cats, cows, and horses, but they can also infect humans.
The replication cycle of foamy viruses is quite distinct compared to other retroviruses. They enter host cells by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface and then merge their envelope with the cell membrane. The viral RNA genome is then reverse transcribed into DNA by an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This viral DNA is integrated into the host cell's genome, allowing the virus to persist within the cell for an extended period. The integrated viral DNA can either remain dormant or be transcribed into RNA and translated into viral proteins.
Despite their name, foamy viruses are generally not associated with severe diseases in their natural hosts. However, they have been found to cause diseases in certain animals, such as immunodeficiency in cats. In humans, foamy viruses are considered non-pathogenic and do not typically cause any symptoms. Research on foamy viruses is ongoing to better understand their replication, transmission, and potential implications for human health.
Common Misspellings for FOAMY VIRUSES
- doamy viruses
- coamy viruses
- voamy viruses
- goamy viruses
- toamy viruses
- roamy viruses
- fiamy viruses
- fkamy viruses
- flamy viruses
- fpamy viruses
- f0amy viruses
- f9amy viruses
- fozmy viruses
- fosmy viruses
- fowmy viruses
- foqmy viruses
- foany viruses
- foaky viruses
- foajy viruses
- foamt viruses
Etymology of FOAMY VIRUSES
The etymology of the term "foamy viruses" can be traced back to the appearance of foam-like inclusion bodies within infected cells. Foamy viruses, also known as spumaviruses, were initially discovered in the late 1950s by electron microscopy. The name "foamy" refers to the characteristic appearance of the viral particles and inclusions within host cells, which have a foamy or bubbly appearance. This term was coined to distinguish these viruses from other known viral types such as RNA or DNA viruses.
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