Pandoravirus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pandoravirus |
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Pandoravirus is a special genus of giant virus. It was first announced to the world in 2013. Most viruses are tiny, but this one is huge. In fact, it is one of the biggest viruses known on Earth, alongside Pithovirus and Megaklothovirus. It has a double-stranded DNA genome, packed with about 2,500 genes.
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Discovery of the Giant Virus
A team of French scientists introduced this huge virus in the journal Science in July 2013. Earlier, scientists had spotted these strange oval shapes in tiny amoeba hosts, but they were so large that people thought they were bacteria.
Scientists found one species called Pandoravirus salinus in salty seawater off the coast of Chile. Another species, Pandoravirus dulcis, came from a freshwater pond at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. They were much larger than other giant viruses like Mimivirus and Megavirus.
Size and Strange Features
What Makes Pandoraviruses Special?
Pandoraviruses are shaped like large ovals and are about 1 micrometer long. Most typical viruses, such as Influenza A or HIV, are far smaller. They usually carry only 8 to 10 genes. Pandoraviruses have up to 2,500 genes, which is massive for a virus.
Mysterious Genes
Scientists noticed that about 93% of their genes do not match genes found in known Bacteria, Archaea, or Eukaryotes. Because they are so strange, some researchers wondered if they belong to a completely new branch on the tree of life.
How Pandoraviruses Multiply
Like other viruses, they go through a viral replication cycle to make copies of themselves. They cannot build their own proteins because they lack ribosomes.
Instead, the virus enters an amoeba by slipping into its vacuoles. Inside, it takes over the cell's energy and cytoplasm. It directs the host to build new viruses. After 10 to 15 hours, the host amoeba bursts open and releases the new viral particles into the water. Fortunately, they infect amoebas and plankton in the water column, and they do not harm people.
See also
In Spanish: Pandoravirus para niños
- DNA virus
- Introduction to viruses
- Largest organisms
- List of viruses
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Virus classification
