View source for Polyomavirus

{{Taxobox_begin | color = violet | name = ''Polyomavirus''}}
{{Taxobox_begin_placement_virus}}
[[Image:Polyomavirus SV40 TEM B82-0338 lores.jpg|240px]]
|colspan = 2|Transmission electron micrograph of polyomavirus SV40
{{Taxobox_group_i_entry}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = '''''Polyomaviridae'''''}}
{{Taxobox_genus_entry | taxon = '''''Polyomavirus'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_subdivision | color = violet | plural_taxon = Species}}
*''[[African green monkey polyomavirus]]''
*''[[Baboon polyomavirus 2]]'' 
*''[[BK polyomavirus]]'' 
*''[[Bovine polyomavirus]]''  
*''[[Budgerigar fledgling disease virus]]''  
*''[[Hamster polyomavirus]]''  
*''[[JC polyomavirus]]''  
*''[[Murine pneumotropic virus]]''  
*''[[Murine polyomavirus]]'' 
*''[[Rabbit kidney vacuolating virus]]'' 
*''[[Simian virus 12]]''  
*''[[Simian virus 40]]'' 
{{Taxobox_end}}
'''''Polyomavirus''''' is the sole [[genus]] of [[virus]]es within the [[family (biology)|family]] ''Polyomaviridae''.  Polyomaviruses are [[DNA virus|DNA-based]] (double-stranded DNA,~5000 base pairs,circular genome), small (40-50 [[nanometers]] in diameter), and [[icosahedron|icosahedral]] in shape, and do not have a [[lipoprotein]] envelope.  They are potentially [[oncogenic]] ([[tumor]]-causing); they often persist as latent infections in a host without causing disease, but may produce tumors in a host of a different species, or a host with an ineffective [[immune system]].  The name ''polyoma'' refers to the viruses' ability to produce multiple (poly-) tumors (-oma).

There are four polyomaviruses found in humans:  [[JC virus]], which can infect the [[respiratory system]], [[kidneys]], or [[brain]] (sometimes causing the fatal [[progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy]] in the latter case), and [[BK virus]], which produces a mild respiratory infection and can affect the kidneys of immunosuppressed [[organ transplant|transplant]] patients.  Both viruses are very widespread:  approximately 80 percent of the adult population in the [[United States]] have antibodies to BK and JC.  Two recently discovered polyomaviruses, KI (Karolinska Institute)[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17287263&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum] and WU (Washington University)[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17480120&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum] viruses, are closely related to each other and have been isolated from respiratory secretions.  

The ''[[Simian vacuolating virus 40]]'' replicates in the kidneys of [[monkey]]s without causing disease, but causes [[sarcoma]]s in [[hamster]]s.  It is unknown whether it can cause disease in humans, which has caused concern since the virus may have been introduced into the general population in the 1950s through a contaminated [[polio vaccine]].

An avian polyomavirus sometimes referred to as the ''[[Budgerigar fledgling disease virus]]'' is a frequent cause of death among caged [[birds]].

The genus ''Polyomavirus'' used to be one of two genera within the now obsolete family ''Papovaviridae'' (the other genus being ''[[Papillomavirus]]'' which is now assigned to its own family ''[[Papillomaviridae]]''). The name ''Papovaviridae'' derives from three abbreviations: Pa for ''Papillomavirus'', Po for ''Polyomavirus'', and Va for "vacuolating".

==Replication==

Prior to genome replication, the processes of viral attachment, entry and uncoating occur. Cellular receptors for polyomaviruses are currently unknown, however, attachment of polyomaviruses to host cells is mediated by viral protein 1 (VP1). This can be confirmed as anti-VP1 antibodies have been shown to prevent the binding of polyomavirus to host cells.[http://www.microbiologybytes.com/virology/Polyomaviruses.html]

Polyomavirus virions are subsequently [[endocytosis|endocytosed]] and transported directly to the nucleus in endocytic [[vacuole]]s where uncoating occurs.  

Polyomaviruses replicate in the [[cell nucleus|nucleus]] of the host. They are able to utilise the host’s machinery because the [[genome|genomic]] structure is [[homology (biology)|homologous]] to that of the mammalian host. Viral [[self replication|replication]] occurs in two distinct phases; early and late gene expression, separated by genome replication. 

'''''Early [[gene expression]]''''' is responsible for the synthesis of non-structural [[proteins]]. Since Polyomaviruses rely on the host to control both the gene expression, the role of the non-structural proteins is to regulate the cellular mechanisms. Close to the N terminal end of polyomavirus genome are enhancer elements which induce activation and transcription of a molecule known as the T-antigen (see [[SV40 Large T-antigen]]). Early mRNA’s, encoding T-antigen are produced by host RNA polymerase II. T-antigen autoregulates early mRNA’s, subsequently leading to elevated levels of T-antigen. At high concentrations of T-antigen, early gene expression is repressed, triggering the late phase of viral infection to begin.

Genome replication acts to separate the early and late phase gene expression. The duplicated viral genome is synthesised and processed as if it were cellular DNA, exploiting the host’s machinery. As the daughter viral DNA are synthesised they associate with cellular [[nucleosomes]] to form structures that are often referred to as "minichromosomes".  In this manner the DNA is packaged more efficiently.

'''''Late gene expression''''' synthesises the structural proteins, responsible for the viral particle composition. This occurs during and after genome replication. As with the early gene expression products, late gene expression generates an array of proteins as a result of [[alternative splicing]].

Within each viral protein are 'nuclear localization signals' which cause the viral proteins to amass in the nucleus. Assembly of new virus particles consequently occurs within the nucleus of the host cell.

'''''Release''''' of newly synthesized polyomavirus particles exit the infected cell by one of two mechanisms. Firstly and less commonly, they are transported in cytoplasmic vacuoles to the [[cell membrane|plasma membrane]], where [[budding]] ocurs. More frequently, they are released when the cell [[lysis|lyses]] due to the [[cytotoxicity]] of virus particles present in the infected cell.

==The Polyoma Middle T-Antigen==
The Polyoma Middle T-Antigen is used in animal [[breast cancer model systems]] like the [[PYMT system]] where it ist coupled to the [[MMTV]] [[promotor]]. There it functions as an [[oncogene]], while the tissue where the tumor develops is determined by the MMTV promotor.

==External links==
*[http://www.microbiologybytes.com/virology/Polyomaviruses.html MicrobiologyBytes: Polyomaviruses]

===Species===
*''[[African green monkey polyomavirus]]'' (AGMPyV) 
*''[[Baboon polyomavirus 2]]'' (PPyV) 
*''[[BK polyomavirus]]'' (BKPyV) 
*''[[Bovine polyomavirus]]'' (BPyV) 
*''[[Budgerigar fledgling disease virus]]'' (BFPyV) 
*''[[Hamster polyomavirus]]'' (HaPyV) 
*''[[JC polyomavirus]]'' (JCPyV) 
*''[[Murine pneumotropic virus]]'' (MPtV) 
*''[[Murine polyomavirus]]'' (MPyV) 
*''[[Rabbit kidney vacuolating virus]]'' (RKV) 
*''[[Simian virus 12]]'' (SV-12) 
*''[[Simian virus 40]]'' (SV-40, type species)

[[Category:Viruses]]
[[Category:Polyomaviruses|*]]

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