20 years of research on giant viruses

npj Viruses, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 3(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 11, 2025

Abstract Some twenty years ago, the discovery of first giant virus, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (now bradfordmassiliense species), paved way for more than 10 new families protist-infecting DNA viruses with unexpected diversity in virion shape and size, gene content, genome topology mode replication. Following their brief description, we examine how historical concepts virology have held up light this knowledge. Although initial emphasis was on gigantism newly described infecting amoebae, subsequent intermediate sizes gradually re-established a continuum between smallest largest within phylum Nucleocytoviricota .

Язык: Английский

Investigations into the Diversity and Distribution of tRNA and Phylogenetics of Translation Factors in Amoebozoa-Infecting Nucleocytoviricota

Viruses, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 17(3), С. 328 - 328

Опубликована: Фев. 27, 2025

Translation is a sine qua non process for life as we know it. factors (TFs) and tRNAs are rare among viruses but commonly found in giant of the class Megaviricetes. In this study, explored diversity distribution that were isolated replicated amoebae (phylum Amoebozoa), investigated evolutionary history TFs to gain insights into their origins these viruses. We analyzed genomes 77 viruses, 52 which contained at least 1 tRNA. most tRNA sequences dispersed throughout genome, except Tupanviruses Yasmineviruses, where clustered specific genomic islands. The often contain introns, with 73.1% exhibiting one intronic region genes. Codon usage bias (CUB) analysis various revealed two distinct patterns codon preferences closely related did not observe clear correlation between presence CUB Due limited size genes, could confidently investigate phylogenetic relationships. However, position sister groups or embedded different eukaryotic taxa high statistical support. Overall, our findings reinforce complexity key components translation apparatus members Nucleocytoviricota from regions Earth.

Язык: Английский

Refining the taxonomy of pithovirus-related giant DNA viruses within the order Pimascovirales

Archives of Virology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 170(5)

Опубликована: Апрель 24, 2025

Язык: Английский