Latest Merkel cell polyomavirus Stories
By Valle, Luis Del White, Martyn K; Khalili, Kamel Abstract The human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is a small DNA tumor virus and the etiologic agent of the progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. In progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, active JCV replication causes the lytic destruction of oligodendrocytes. The normal immune system prevents JCV replication and suppresses the virus into a state of latency so that expression of viral proteins cannot be detected. In a cellular context that...
Latest Merkel cell polyomavirus Reference Libraries
Polyomavirus is the sole genus of viruses within the family Polyomaviridae. Ludwik Gross discovered the first polyomavirus, Murine polyomavirus, in 1963. Many polyomaviruses infect birds and mammals and have been extensively studied as tumor viruses in humans and animals. Polyomaviruses are DNA-based, small, and icosahedral in shape. They can potentially cause tumors and often persist as latent infections in a host without causing disease. There are three major clades or...
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV or MCPyV), first discovered in January 2008, is one of seven human tumor viruses. It is suspected to cause most of Merkel cell carcinoma which is a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer. Around 80% of Merkel cell carcinoma tumors are found to be infected with MCV. It is found in respiratory secretions suggesting that it may be transmitted by a respiratory route. Usually the tumors with MCV viruses go through at least two mutations that render the virus...
