PARIS (AFP) - A virus found in the sea off Chile is the biggest in the world, harbouring more than 1,000 genes, surprised scientists reported on Monday.
The genome of Megavirus chilensis is 6.5 percent bigger than the DNA code of the previous virus record-holder, Mimivirus, isolated in 2003.
Viruses differ from bacteria in that they are usually far smaller and cannot reproduce on their own, needing to penetrate a host cell in which to replicate.
But M. chilensis is such a giant that it surpasses many bacteria in size and is genetically the most complex DNA virus ever described.
It was taken from sea water sample closed to the shore of Las Cruces, Chile. Its host organism is unknown.
DNA viruses include pox viruses and herpes viruses, but M. chilensis "doesn't seem to be harmful for humans," said Jean-Michel Claverie, of France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
The study appears in a US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
<한글기사>
세계 최대 '메가바이러스' 발견
세상에서 가장 큰 바이러스가 칠레 해상에서 발견됐다.
일반 바이러스보다 10~20배나 긴 이 새로운 바이러스가 미국 국립과학원회보(PNAS)에 소개됐다.
칠레에서 발견됐다고 해 '메가 바이러스 칠렌시스'(Megavirus chilensis)로 명 명된 이 바이러스는 지름이 0.7㎛(mm의 1천분의 1)로, 지난 1992년 영국에서 확인돼 여태껏 세계 최대 바이러스로 기록된 '미미 바이러스'(Mimivirus)보다도 크다.
 |
(BBC) |
