ECTROMELIA VIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Ectromelia viruses are a group of viruses that primarily infect rodents, particularly mice, causing a disease known as ectromelia or mousepox. These viruses belong to the family Poxviridae, genus Orthopoxvirus, and are closely related to other members of the orthopoxvirus genus like variola virus, the virus responsible for smallpox.
The infection caused by ectromelia viruses is characterized by skin lesions, specifically on the extremities such as the feet and tail of infected mice. These lesions can progress to necrosis, leading to the characteristic "ectromelia" name, which translates to "missing limb." The virus spreads through direct contact between infected animals, through droplets from respiratory secretions, or through contaminated fomites.
Ectromelia viruses are of significant research interest because they provide an animal model for the study of poxvirus infections and the development of vaccines and antiviral treatments. Due to the similarities between ectromelia and smallpox in terms of genetic makeup and disease manifestation, this virus has been used as a surrogate model for studying the efficacy of smallpox vaccines.
The study of ectromelia viruses has contributed to our understanding of poxvirus pathogenesis, immunity, and host-virus interactions. Moreover, this research has shed light on the development of novel antiviral therapies and strategies for controlling poxvirus infections.
Common Misspellings for ECTROMELIA VIRUSES
- wctromelia viruses
- sctromelia viruses
- dctromelia viruses
- rctromelia viruses
- 4ctromelia viruses
- 3ctromelia viruses
- extromelia viruses
- evtromelia viruses
- eftromelia viruses
- edtromelia viruses
- ecrromelia viruses
- ecfromelia viruses
- ecgromelia viruses
- ecyromelia viruses
- ec6romelia viruses
- ec5romelia viruses
- ecteomelia viruses
- ectdomelia viruses
- ectfomelia viruses
- ecttomelia viruses
Etymology of ECTROMELIA VIRUSES
The word "ectromelia" is derived from the Greek words "ektrōma" meaning "a deft stroke" or "a mutilation" and "melos" meaning "limb" or "branch". It was coined in the early 20th century to describe a viral disease affecting the limbs of mice, which caused deformities or amputations. The term "viruses" is a plural form of "virus" derived from the Latin word "virus" meaning "poison" or "slimy liquid". Therefore, "Ectromelia viruses" refers to the group of viruses that cause the disease ectromelia in mice.
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