Asfarviruses and Closely Related Giant Viruses.

, so called because of its "mimicking microbe", was discovered in 2003 and was the founding member of the first family of giant viruses isolated from amoeba. These giant viruses, present in various environments, have opened up a previously unexplored field of virology. Since 2003, many other giant viruses have been isolated, founding new families and taxonomical groups.

Genome Sequences of Two New Pandoravirus Strains Isolated from Brazil and France.

Pandoraviruses are giant viruses of amoebas with a wide range of genome sizes (1.5 to 2.5 Mbp) and 1-μm ovoid viral particles.

Generation of Infectious Mimivirus Virions Through Inoculation of Viral DNA Within Shows Involvement of Five Proteins, Essentially Uncharacterized.

One of the most curious findings associated with the discovery of mimivirus (APMV) was the presence of many proteins and RNAs within the virion. Although some hypotheses on their role in Acanthamoeba infection have been put forward, none have been validated. In this study, we directly transfected mimivirus DNA with or without additional proteinase K treatment to extracted DNA into In this way, it was possible to generate infectious APMV virions, but only without extra proteinase K treatment of extracted DNA.

Diverse Trajectories Drive the Expression of a Giant Virus in the Oomycete Plant Pathogen .

Giant viruses of amoebas, recently classified in the class Megaviricetes, are a group of viruses that can infect major eukaryotic lineages. We previously identified a set of giant virus sequences in the genome of , an oomycete and a devastating major plant pathogen. How viral insertions shape the structure and evolution of the invaded genomes is unclear, but it is known that the unprecedented functional potential of giant viruses is the result of an intense genetic interplay with their hosts.

Microscopic Observation of SARS-Like Particles in RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2 Positive Sewage Samples.

The ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread rapidly worldwide. The major transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 are recognised as inhalation of aerosol/droplets and person-to-person contact. However, some studies have demonstrated that live SARS-CoV-2 can be isolated from the faeces and urine of infected patients, which can then enter the wastewater system.