Paul HouleFeb 25

🧬 Giant DNA viruses encode their own eukaryote-like translation machinery, researchers discover

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-giant-dna-viruses-encode-eukaryote.html

#virus #microbes #molbio #translation #omics #genomics #giantvirus

Giant DNA viruses encode their own eukaryote-like translation machinery, researchers discover

In a new study, published in Cell, researchers describe a newfound mechanism for creating proteins in a giant DNA virus, comparable to a mechanism in eukaryotic cells. The finding challenges the dogma that viruses lack protein synthesis machinery, and blurs the line between cellular life and viruses.

Phys.org
Good News CommunityJan 20

🌌🦠 Cosmic origins unlocked? New giant virus “ushikuvirus” from amoebae holds ancient DNA clues to how complex life evolved—challenging theories on early cells. A science breakthrough rewriting biology! Read more: https://thedebrief.org/this-giant-virus-previously-unknown-to-science-may-help-unlock-the-mystery-of-lifes-origins/

@goodnews

#GoodNews #GiantVirus #LifeOrigins #ScienceDiscovery #EvolutionWin

This Giant Virus, Previously Unknown to Science, May Help Unlock the Mystery of Life’s Origins

Science, Tech and Defense for the Rebelliously Curious.

The Debrief
Amelia Cervera 🧬May 17, 2025

Cryptic infection of a giant virus in a unicellular green alga.

#GiantVirus #Chlamydomonas #GreenAlgae #GiantEndogenousViralElements #GEVEs #LatentVirusInfection

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads6303

Frank AylwardOct 26, 2023

#PhD positions available in my group for Fall 2024 - projects focusing on #GiantVirus diversity and #evolution. Opportunities for both molecular wet-lab and #bioinformatics research.

The lab is fun, supportive, and inclusive, and we have many cool new viruses we are studying, so come join us!

Please boost and spread the word!

https://jobrxiv.org/job/virginia-tech-27778-funded-phd-position/

PhD position in viral evolution and diversity

Post a job in 3min, or find thousands of job offers like this one at jobRxiv!

jobRxiv
Show threadTrueInfectionsSep 24, 2023

"... for generation of new substrate genes to facilitate intracellular growth in multiple amoebal species, there has been less selective pressure for the loss of genes. This is presumably because a set of genes that does not facilitate optimal growth in one host allows a selective advantage when the next species is encountered."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2631402/
The Legionella pneumophila replication vacuole: making a cozy niche inside host cells

#microbiology #evolution #Bacteria #Virology #GiantVirus

The Legionella pneumophila replication vacuole: making a cozy niche inside host cells

The pathogenesis of Legionella pneumophila results from growth of the bacterium within lung macrophages after aerosols are inhaled from contaminated water sources. Interest in this microorganism stems from its ability to manipulate host cell vesicular ...

PubMed Central (PMC)
TrueInfectionsSep 24, 2023

"Although L. pneumophila has adapted to grow in amoeba and other unicellular microorganisms, there is no demonstrated amoebal host preference, and many cell types can support intracellular growth of this microorganism 88. Although there might have been powerful selection for the acquisition or generation of new substrate genes to ... "

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2631402/
The Legionella pneumophila replication vacuole: making a cozy niche inside host cells

#microbiology #evolution #virology #GiantVirus

The Legionella pneumophila replication vacuole: making a cozy niche inside host cells

The pathogenesis of Legionella pneumophila results from growth of the bacterium within lung macrophages after aerosols are inhaled from contaminated water sources. Interest in this microorganism stems from its ability to manipulate host cell vesicular ...

PubMed Central (PMC)
CabJul 31, 2023
I predict that in the next few years we'll see giruses (giant viruses) aren't so much going to challenge the boundaries of what a virus is, but they're going to stomp all over the concept and laugh at us. #GiantVirus #Microbiology https://www.sciencealert.com/freakishly-large-viruses-with-arms-and-tails-found-in-massachusetts
Freakishly Large Viruses With Arms And Tails Found in Massachusetts

Scientists have discovered an "astounding diversity" of giant viruses taking on "previously unimaginable" shapes and forms in just a few handfuls of forest soil.

ScienceAlert
Axel ViselNov 13, 2022

They are huge (for a virus) and there are probably MANY more of them out there.

Great new review about GIANT  viruses   by Frederik Schulz, Chantal Abergel, Tanja Woyke

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00754-5

#JGI #BerkeleyLab #virus #giantvirus #NCLDV #NatureReviewsMicrobiology

Giant virus biology and diversity in the era of genome-resolved metagenomics - Nature Reviews Microbiology

The discovery of giant viruses, with virions as large as some bacteria and eukaryotes, megabase-range genomes, and a variety of traits typically found only in cellular organisms, was one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in biology. In this Review, Schulz, Abergel and Woyke explore insights into the biology, diversity, biogeography and ecology of giant viruses provided by culture and genomic technologies.

Nature
Massimo LucianiMar 27, 2019
#biology #virus #GiantVirus An article published in the "Journal of Virology" reports the discovery of a new giant virus that was called Medusavirus. https://english.netmassimo.com/2019/03/27/medusavirus-is-a-giant-virus-with-strange-characteristics-even-for-that-type-of-organism/
Medusavirus is a giant virus with strange characteristics even for that type of organism

An article published in the 'Journal of Virology' reports the discovery of a new giant virus that was called Medusavirus. A team of researchers discovered it...

NetMassimo Blog