noun
- A small DNA virus that infects mammals and birds, often causing tumors or other diseases; a member of the family Polyomaviridae.
Usage: technical; biology/medicine
Examples
- Polyomavirus was first discovered in mice and later found to infect humans.
- The researcher studied how polyomavirus integrates into the host cell genome.
- JC polyomavirus is known to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunocompromised patients.
- Polyomavirus particles are icosahedral in structure and contain double-stranded DNA.
- Scientists are investigating polyomavirus as a potential vector for gene therapy.