JC virus

JC virus or JC polyomavirus is a type of human polyomavirus, genetically similar to BK virus and SV40. It was discovered in 1971 and named after the initials of the person in whom it was found, a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

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The virus is very common in the general population, infecting 70 to 90 percent of humans. Initial infection, which may be through the respiratory tract or orally, produces no symptoms; the virus usually remains latent in the respiratory system and/or kidneys, and can also infect the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Normally, reactivation of the virus will occur only if the patient is immunodeficient, as in AIDS, or immunosuppressed, as in organ transplant patients. If the virus is reactivated, it can attack the kidneys, causing cystitis and ureteral stenosis, or the brain, causing the fatal PML.

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Studies since 2000 have found JC virus in malignant colon tumors and suggested that the virus may be linked to colon cancer.

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Polyomavirus: See text...

BK virus: The BK virus is an incurable member of the polyomavirus family. Past infection with the BK virus is widespread, but significant consequences of infection are uncommon, with the exception of the immunocompromised and the immunosuppressed....

SV40: SV40 is an abbreviation for Simian vacuolating virus 40 or Simian virus 40, a polyomavirus that is found in both monkeys and humans. Like other polyomaviruses, SV40 is a DNA virus that has the potential to cause tumors, but most often persists as a latent infection....

JC virus related Images and Photos (experimental)

Virus	J.C. Heard	J.C. Chasez	J C Chasez
T-Virus Shirt	T-Virus Shirt	T-Virus Shirt	Papilloma Virus
End of Days / Virus Double Feature	Rabies Virus Showing its Characteristic Bullet Shape	Vaccinia or Pox Virus	Papilloma Virus. Hpv May Cause Warts or Papillomas in Various Parts of the Body