A giant virus, sometimes referred to as a girus, is a very large virus, some of which are larger than typical bacteria. [1] [2] All known giant viruses belong to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota. [3]

It came as a great surprise in 2003 when the first giant virus was discovered and found to have a >1 Mbp genome encoding almost a thousand proteins. Following this first discovery, dozens of giant virus strains across several viral families have been reported.

Jul 28, 2022 · In this Review, we summarize our understanding of giant virus diversity and biology based on viral isolates as laboratory cultivation has enabled extensive insights into viral morphology and ...

May 18, 2022 · Giant viruses are a part of a group of nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLVD) whose viral particle magnitude, structure, genome length, and complexity are larger than the standard...

A giant virus is a very large virus. They are sometimes called a girus. Some of them are larger than typical bacteria. [1] [2] All known giant viruses belong to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota. [3] The genomes of many giant viruses code for unusual genes which are not found in other viruses.

Jul 31, 2023 · Giant viruses lurking in the soils of a New England forest sport traits never seen in other viruses of similar heft — from star-like outer shells to bizarre, tubular appendages, according to a...

Oct 5, 2020 · What do giant viruses infect? Mimivirus, the first giant virus, was isolated on Acanthamoeba polyphaga. These amoebae normally feed on bacteria and tolerate many of their prey as intracellular parasites.

Dec 24, 2024 · However, with the discovery of new amoeba viruses and those from other protists, the concept of "giant viruses" has become increasingly controversial in the scientific literature. This commentary revisits the historical and conceptual foundations of the term "giant virus" and explores its implications for virology.

The discovery of giant viruses, with capsids as large as some bacteria, megabase-range genomes and a variety of traits typically found only in cellular organisms, was one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in biology.

Dec 1, 2023 · Hidden for many years and serendipitously discovered, giant viruses have emerged as a captivating subject of scientific interest, leading to significant discoveries and paradigm shifts in our understanding of viruses.