polyomaviruses
Polyomaviruses are a group of small, nonenveloped DNA viruses that belong to the family Polyomaviridae. They have icosahedral capsids and circular double-stranded genomes of about five to six kilobases. Members infect a wide range of hosts, including mammals, birds, and fishes, and are generally host-specific. Most infections are asymptomatic and acquired early in life, with the virus establishing lifelong latency in certain tissues.
The genome features early and late regions. The early region encodes regulatory proteins, notably the large
Replication occurs in the nucleus of the infected cell and relies on host cellular machinery. Productive replication
Clinical relevance varies by virus and host immune status. In humans, many infections remain latent and clinically
Diagnostics typically use PCR to detect viral DNA in urine, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid, along with serology