noun
- A group of small DNA viruses that can cause tumors in animals and are studied for their role in certain human cancers and diseases.
Usage: technical; plural form; virology
Examples
- Polyomaviruses are commonly found in nature and infect a wide range of mammalian hosts.
- Researchers study polyomaviruses to understand how viruses can transform normal cells into cancer cells.
- The JC virus, one of the polyomaviruses, can cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunocompromised patients.
- Polyomaviruses have been detected in human tissue samples and are suspected of contributing to certain cancers.
- Scientists use polyomaviruses as model organisms to investigate viral oncogenesis and immune responses.