Giant viruses: Enfants terribles in the microbal world

Authors:

• Julia Łucja Durzyńska

Abstract

In the past decade knowledge about Megaviruses, also denoted as nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) has been growing quickly. In the current paper, we present a general description of NCLDVs including their genome size, gene functions and homologies to other forms of life and viruses. Evolution of giant viruses from the fourth domain of life (now extinct) and a genomic complexification from smaller DNA viruses are described. Undeniable is the fact that Megaviruses in terms of their size and genomic capacity belong in between cellular and viral worlds breaking several 'viral dogmas.' The host range of NCLDVs goes far beyond unicellular organisms and a major challenge in the future is to establish their pathogenicity in human population.