Scientists in France have isolated a new giant virus that lurks
inside amoeba and whose gene pool includes genetic material from
other species.
The virus "is a completely new viral form," said Didier Raoult,
head of infectious and emerging tropical disease research at
Aix-Marseille 2 University in France.
The genome of the so-called Marseillevirus encompasses a complex
repertoire of genes that are "very different from the DNA of other
virus forms," and shows that there is genetic exchange between
other micro-organisms such a giant viruses and bacteria found in
amoeba, he told AFP in an interview.
Amoeba, single-cell life forms that can be parasites on either
human or animals, are acting as "a sort of cradle of creation for
new viruses and bacteria," Raoult said, whose research was also
published this week by the Proceedings of National Academy of
Sciences.
Only a small number of so-called giant viruses have been
discovered, the first in 1993 by accident. Unlike classic viruses,
they can been viewed through a conventional light microscope.
Even now kittle is known about them but in 2008, a team led by
Raoult even found viruses that infect other viruses so as to
replicate themselves, he said.
With a genome of 368,000 basic pairs, Marseillevirus is the
fifth biggest virus ever sequenced and has a diametre of 250
nanometres (around 250 millionth of a millimetre, according the a
report by Raoult's for the French National Centre for Scientific
Research (CNRS).
The DNA of the giant virus contains material from different
sources including plant and animal matter, bacteria and other giant
viruses such as the Mimivirus, the report said.
"There is a mechanism of permanent creation going on in amoeba
producing a new repertoire of viruses and predisposing giant
viruses to become pathogens once they specialise", Raoult said.
He said the mechanism was not foreseen by Charles Darwin's
theory that life comes from a common ancestor.
"The idea of a common ancestor makes no sense in the light of
viruses," he said.
"That was Darwin's idea, but he was clearly wrong."
inside amoeba and whose gene pool includes genetic material from
other species.
The virus "is a completely new viral form," said Didier Raoult,
head of infectious and emerging tropical disease research at
Aix-Marseille 2 University in France.
The genome of the so-called Marseillevirus encompasses a complex
repertoire of genes that are "very different from the DNA of other
virus forms," and shows that there is genetic exchange between
other micro-organisms such a giant viruses and bacteria found in
amoeba, he told AFP in an interview.
Amoeba, single-cell life forms that can be parasites on either
human or animals, are acting as "a sort of cradle of creation for
new viruses and bacteria," Raoult said, whose research was also
published this week by the Proceedings of National Academy of
Sciences.
Only a small number of so-called giant viruses have been
discovered, the first in 1993 by accident. Unlike classic viruses,
they can been viewed through a conventional light microscope.
Even now kittle is known about them but in 2008, a team led by
Raoult even found viruses that infect other viruses so as to
replicate themselves, he said.
With a genome of 368,000 basic pairs, Marseillevirus is the
fifth biggest virus ever sequenced and has a diametre of 250
nanometres (around 250 millionth of a millimetre, according the a
report by Raoult's for the French National Centre for Scientific
Research (CNRS).
The DNA of the giant virus contains material from different
sources including plant and animal matter, bacteria and other giant
viruses such as the Mimivirus, the report said.
"There is a mechanism of permanent creation going on in amoeba
producing a new repertoire of viruses and predisposing giant
viruses to become pathogens once they specialise", Raoult said.
He said the mechanism was not foreseen by Charles Darwin's
theory that life comes from a common ancestor.
"The idea of a common ancestor makes no sense in the light of
viruses," he said.
"That was Darwin's idea, but he was clearly wrong."
