Definition
picornaviruses
noun
- A family of small, non-enveloped RNA viruses that cause various diseases in humans and animals, including polio, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease.
Usage: plural form; technical/medical term; virology
Examples
- Picornaviruses are among the smallest known viruses affecting humans.
- The polio vaccine was developed to protect against one of the most dangerous picornaviruses.
- Rhinoviruses, a type of picornavirus, are responsible for most common colds.
- Researchers study picornaviruses to understand how they replicate and cause infection.
- Foot-and-mouth disease in livestock is caused by a picornavirus.
- The structure of picornaviruses makes them resistant to many environmental conditions.