Medusavirus
Appearance
Medusavirus | |
---|---|
Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | incertae sedis |
Kingdom: | incertae sedis |
Phylum: | incertae sedis |
Class: | incertae sedis |
Order: | incertae sedis |
Family: | Medusaviridae |
Genus: | Medusavirus |
Medusavirus is a large DNA virus isolated from a Japanese hot spring, among other places worldwide, and is notable for having complete set of histone related genes.[1] The virus can harden defenseless amoebas into stone-like cysts, but usually burst.[2] The possibility that evolutionary emergence of complex eukaryotic cells from simpler prokaryotic cells has been suggested.[3] The virus was named after Medusa, the Greek mythological monster whose gaze turned people to stone.[2]
References
- ^ Yoshikawa, Genki; Blanc-Mathieu, Romain; Song, Chihong; Kayama, Yoko; Mochizuki, Tomohiro; Murata, Kazuyoshi; Ogata, Hiroyuki; Takemura, Masaharu (2019). "Medusavirus, a novel large DNA virus discovered from hot spring water" (PDF). Journal of Virology. 93 (8). doi:10.1128/JVI.02130-18. PMC 6450098. PMID 30728258. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ a b "The giant Medusavirus turns defenceless cells to 'stone'". Nature. 566 (7745): 429. 2019. Bibcode:2019Natur.566R.429.. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00591-2.
- ^ Tokyo University of Science (30 April 2019). "New giant virus may help scientists better understand the emergence of complex life - Large DNA virus that helps scientists understand the origins of DNA replication and the evolution of complex life". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 30 April 2019.