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A Review on Unmasking Merkel Cell Polyomavirus: From Discovery to Cancer Driver
Abstract: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a small, non-enveloped, circular double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Polyomaviridae family, first characterized in 2008. Epidemiological data suggest widespread exposure, with seroprevalence rates approaching 80% in adults. While primary infection is typically asymptomatic, rare integration events in Merkel cells can initiate oncogenesis, yielding Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a neuroendocrine skin cancer with a five-year survival rate under 60%. This review integrates findings from six …
Published in International Journal of Virus Studies · Vol. 2, Issue 2, 2025 · pp. 6–11 Read article