Picornaviruses

Picornaviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for a range of diseases in humans and animals, including the common cold and polio. They are extremely small and measure between 30 and 35 nanometers in diameter, and have a protein shell that contains a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. Picornaviruses are able to replicate rapidly in cells, using the cell's replication machinery, and tend to cause mild infections with symptoms that last a few days. They can be spread via contact with contaminated surfaces or contact with infected bodily fluids, and are characterized by a short incubation period of 1-3 days. Picornaviruses are significant to public health and medical research, as they can be used to study virus and cellular biology, as well as for vaccine development and antiviral drug design.