POLYOMA VIRUS Meaning and
Definition
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Polyoma virus is a small, double-stranded circular DNA virus that belongs to the family Polyomaviridae. It is a non-enveloped virus known to infect a wide range of vertebrates, including mammals and birds. This virus derives its name from its distinctive characteristic of producing multiple tumors in experimental animals, giving rise to the term "polyoma." Polyoma viruses are commonly found in nature and can be classified into different serotypes based on their antigenic properties.
Polyoma virus primarily infects host cells by binding to specific receptor molecules on the cell surface, subsequently entering the cell through endocytosis. Once inside the host cell, the virus hijacks the cellular machinery to replicate its genetic material, leading to the production of new virus particles. In some cases, polyoma viruses can establish a persistent or latent infection, meaning they may remain dormant within host cells and reactivate under certain circumstances.
In humans, two well-studied polyoma viruses are the JC virus (JCV) and the BK virus (BKV). Both viruses are often harmless and can be found in over 70% of the population. However, under certain conditions, such as a weakened immune system, these viruses can cause serious complications. JCV is associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and often fatal brain infection. BKV, on the other hand, can cause kidney disease in organ transplant recipients and complications during pregnancy.
Overall, polyoma viruses pose a significant interest to researchers due to their ability to establish persistent infections and their association with various diseases in humans and animals.
Common Misspellings for POLYOMA VIRUS
- oolyoma virus
- lolyoma virus
- -olyoma virus
- 0olyoma virus
- pilyoma virus
- pklyoma virus
- pllyoma virus
- pplyoma virus
- p0lyoma virus
- p9lyoma virus
- pokyoma virus
- popyoma virus
- pooyoma virus
- poltoma virus
- polgoma virus
- polhoma virus
- poluoma virus
- pol7oma virus
- pol6oma virus
- polyima virus
Etymology of POLYOMA VIRUS
The word polyoma is a combination of two Greek words: poly meaning many, and oma meaning tumor. The term was coined in 1962 to refer to a group of small DNA viruses that were discovered to cause tumors in laboratory mice. These viruses were found to induce the development of multiple tumors, hence the name polyoma. The word virus itself has Latin origins, derived from the Latin word virus meaning poison or slime.
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