SPUMAVIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Spumaviruses are a family of retroviruses that belong to the subfamily of Spumaretrovirinae. These viruses are characterized by their distinct morphological features and replication strategy. The name "spuma" refers to the frothy appearance of cells infected by these viruses.
Spumaviruses are enveloped viruses with a unique replication strategy compared to other retroviruses. Unlike typical retroviruses, they do not integrate their genome into the host DNA, but instead establish a persistent infection through a process called foamy replication. This replication process involves reverse transcription of the viral RNA genome into DNA, which is then packaged into capsids and released from the infected cell. The released capsids are able to infect neighboring cells, thereby perpetuating the infection.
These viruses are commonly found in non-human primates, but have also been detected in humans. They are known to infect various tissues such as the central nervous system, kidneys, and mucosal membranes. Although spumaviruses are generally considered non-pathogenic in their natural hosts, they have been linked to diseases in immunocompromised individuals.
In conclusion, spumaviruses are a unique family of retroviruses that exhibit distinctive replication strategies and morphological features. Their ability to establish a persistent infection and their association with diseases in certain individuals make them an important area of study in virology.
Common Misspellings for SPUMAVIRUSES
- apumaviruses
- zpumaviruses
- xpumaviruses
- dpumaviruses
- epumaviruses
- wpumaviruses
- soumaviruses
- slumaviruses
- s-umaviruses
- s0umaviruses
- spymaviruses
- sphmaviruses
- spjmaviruses
- spimaviruses
- sp8maviruses
- sp7maviruses
- spunaviruses
- spukaviruses
- spujaviruses
- spumzviruses
Etymology of SPUMAVIRUSES
The word "spumaviruses" is a combination of two parts: "spuma" and "viruses".
1. Spuma: The term "spuma" comes from the Latin word "spūma", which means "foam" or "froth". In scientific contexts, "spuma" is used to refer to foam-like structures observed in certain viruses.
2. Viruses: The term "viruses" originates from the Latin word "vīrus", which has been used to denote "poison", "slime", or any noxious substance since ancient times. In modern usage, "viruses" specifically refers to tiny infectious agents that can replicate only inside living organisms, causing various diseases.
Combining these two elements, "spumaviruses" refers to a group of viruses that exhibit foam-like structures or features.
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