The spelling of "Mouse mammary tumor virus" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word "mouse" is pronounced as /maʊs/. "Mammary" is pronounced as /ˈmæməri/ with stress on the second syllable. "Tumor" is pronounced as /ˈtuːmər/, again with stress on the second syllable. Finally, "virus" is pronounced as /ˈvaɪrəs/. This spelling helps ensure accurate pronunciation of this complex term, which refers to a virus that causes tumors in the mammary glands of mice.
Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus belonging to the Betaretrovirus genus that infects mice, particularly in the mammary glands. It is a complex retrovirus that has been extensively studied as a model organism for understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying mammary gland development, as well as breast cancer progression.
MMTV is transmitted horizontally through contact with infected saliva, milk, or urine, or vertically through the placenta or milk during breastfeeding. Infection with MMTV can lead to the development of mammary gland tumors in infected mice, which can be transmitted to their offspring.
MMTV has a single-stranded RNA genome that is reverse transcribed into DNA and integrated into the host cell's genome. The viral genome contains genes encoding structural proteins, enzymes required for replication, and regulatory proteins involved in viral gene expression. MMTV infection induces the formation of viral proteins, which play a role in the transformation of normal mammary gland cells into cancerous cells.
MMTV provides a valuable model system for studying the oncogenic potential of retroviruses and their association with breast cancer. Its study has contributed to significant advances in understanding the role of viral oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and immune response in breast cancer development and progression.