Pandoraviruses: amoeba viruses with genomes up to 2.5 Mb reaching that of parasitic eukaryotes
Philippe, N.; Legendre, M.; Doutre, G.; Couté, Y.; Poirot, O.; Lescot, M.; Arslan, D.; Seltzer, V.; Bertaux, L.; Bruley, C.; Garin, J.; Claverie, J.-M.; Abergel, C. (2013). Pandoraviruses: amoeba viruses with genomes up to 2.5 Mb reaching that of parasitic eukaryotes. Science (Wash.) 341(6143): 281-286. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1239181 In: Science (Washington). American Association for the Advancement of Science: New York, N.Y. ISSN 0036-8075; e-ISSN 1095-9203, more |  |
| Keywords | Marine Sciences
Marine Sciences > Biodiversity
Marine Sciences > Marine Genomics
Scientific Community
Scientific Publication
Marine/Coastal |
| Project | Top | Authors | - Association of European marine biological laboratories, more
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| Authors | | Top | - Philippe, N.
- Legendre, M.
- Doutre, G.
- Couté, Y.
- Poirot, O.
| - Lescot, M.
- Arslan, D.
- Seltzer, V.
- Bertaux, L.
| - Bruley, C.
- Garin, J.
- Claverie, J.-M.
- Abergel, C.
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| Abstract | Ten years ago, the discovery of Mimivirus, a virus infecting Acanthamoeba, initiated a reappraisal of the upper limits of the viral world, both in terms of particle size (>0.7 micrometers) and genome complexity (>1000 genes), dimensions typical of parasitic bacteria. The diversity of these giant viruses (the Megaviridae) was assessed by sampling a variety of aquatic environments and their associated sediments worldwide. We report the isolation of two giant viruses, one off the coast of central Chile, the other from a freshwater pond near Melbourne (Australia), without morphological or genomic resemblance to any previously defined virus families. Their micrometer-sized ovoid particles contain DNA genomes of at least 2.5 and 1.9 megabases, respectively. These viruses are the first members of the proposed "Pandoravirus" genus, a term reflecting their lack of similarity with previously described microorganisms and the surprises expected from their future study. |
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