noun
- A group of DNA viruses that includes polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses, some of which can cause tumors in animals and humans.
Usage: technical; virology; plural form of papovavirus
Examples
- Papovaviruses are studied extensively in cancer research because of their tumor-causing potential.
- The classification of papovaviruses has evolved as molecular biology techniques have improved.
- Some papovaviruses can integrate into the host cell genome and cause cellular transformation.
- Researchers isolated papovaviruses from tissue samples to understand their role in disease development.