Pithovirus: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Pithovirus is a genus of giant virus known from one species, Pithovirus sibericum, which infects [[amoebas]]. It is a double-stranded DNA virus, and is member of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses clade. It was first described in 2014 after a specimen was revived from a 30,000-year-old ice core harvested from Siberia's permafrost. | Pithovirus is a genus of giant virus known from one species, Pithovirus sibericum, which infects [[amoebas]].<ref name="Nature">{{cite journal|author=Yong, Ed |doi=10.1038/nature.2014.14801|title=Giant virus resurrected from 30,000-year-old ice : Nature News & Comment |journal=Nature |date=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref name='BBC March 2014'> {{cite news | first = Rebecca | last = Morelle | title = 30,000-year-old giant virus 'comes back to life' | date = 3 March 2014 | url = http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26387276 | work = BBC News | accessdate = 4 March 2014}}</ref> It is a double-stranded DNA virus, and is member of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses clade. It was first described in 2014 after a specimen was revived from a 30,000-year-old ice core harvested from Siberia's permafrost. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
A specimen of Pithovirus measures approximately 1.5 µm in length and 0.5 µm in diameter, making it the largest virus yet found. It is 50% larger than the [[pandoraviruses]], the previous largest known viruses. The species has a thick, oval wall with an opening at one end. Internally, its structure resembles a honeycomb. | A specimen of Pithovirus measures approximately 1.5 µm in length and 0.5 µm in diameter, making it the largest virus yet found. It is 50% larger than the [[pandoraviruses]], the previous largest known viruses.<ref name=NatGeo>{{cite news|title=Ancient "Giant Virus" Revived From Siberian Permafrost|work=National Geographic|date=3 March 2014|author=Sirucek, Stefan |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140303-giant-virus-permafrost-siberia-pithovirus-pandoravirus-science/|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> The species has a thick, oval wall with an opening at one end. Internally, its structure resembles a honeycomb.<ref name=Nature /> | ||
The genome of Pithovirus contains approximately 500 distinct genes, more than a typical virus but an order of magnitude less than found in Pandoravirus.<ref name=NatGeo /> Thus, its genome is far less densely packed than any other known virus. Two-thirds of its [[proteins]] are unlike those of other viruses. Despite the physical similarity with Pandoravirus, the Pithovirus genome sequence reveals that it is barely related to that virus, but more closely resembles members of [[Marseilleviridae]], [[Megaviridae]] and [[Iridoviridae]]. These families all contain large icosahedral viruses with DNA genomes. The Pithovirus genome has 36% GC-content, similar to the Megaviridae, in contrast to greater than 61% for pandoraviruses. | |||
===Replication=== | ===Replication=== | ||
The viral genome encodes all the [[proteins]] needed to produce mRNA; these proteins are present in the purified [[virions]]. Pithovirus therefore undergoes its entire replication cycle in its host's cytoplasm, like other large DNA viruses such as [[poxviruses]] and the Megaviridae (although unlike Pandoravirus), rather than the more typical method of taking over the host's nucleus. | The viral genome encodes all the [[proteins]] needed to produce mRNA; these proteins are present in the purified [[virions]].<ref name='Virology Blog'/> Pithovirus therefore undergoes its entire replication cycle in its host's cytoplasm, like other large DNA viruses such as [[poxviruses]] and the Megaviridae (although unlike Pandoravirus), rather than the more typical method of taking over the host's nucleus.<ref name=Nature /><ref name='Virology Blog'/><ref name='Coghlan'> {{cite news | first = Andy | last = Coghlan | title = Biggest-ever virus revived from Stone Age permafrost | date = 3 March 2014 | url = http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25151-biggestever-virus-revived-from-stone-age-permafrost.html#.UxYUD2eYbLE | work = NewScientist | accessdate = 4 March 2014}}</ref> | ||
==Discovery== | ==Discovery== | ||
Pithovirus sibericum was discovered in a 30,000 year old sample of Siberian permafrost by Chantal Abergel and Jean-Michel Claverie of Aix-Marseille University. The virus was discovered buried 30 m (98 ft) below the surface of a late Pleistocene sediment. It was found when riverbank samples harvested in 2000 were exposed to amoebas. The [[amoebas]] started dying and when examined were found to contain giant virus specimens. The genus name Pithovirus, a reference to large storage containers of ancient Greece known as pithos, was chosen to describe the new species. The authors said they got the idea to probe permafrost samples for new viruses after reading about an experiment that revived a similar aged seed of Silene stenophylla two years earlier. The Pithovirus findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2014. | Pithovirus sibericum was discovered in a 30,000 year old sample of Siberian permafrost by Chantal Abergel and Jean-Michel Claverie of Aix-Marseille University.<ref name=Nature /> The virus was discovered buried 30 m (98 ft) below the surface of a late Pleistocene sediment.<ref name='BBC March 2014'/><ref name='Virology Blog'> {{cite news | first = Vincent | last = Racaniello | title = Pithovirus: Bigger than Pandoravirus with a smaller genome | date = 4 March 2014 | url = http://www.virology.ws/2014/03/04/pithovirus-bigger-than-pandoravirus-with-a-smaller-genome/ | work = Virology Blog | accessdate = 4 March 2014}}</ref> It was found when riverbank samples harvested in 2000 were exposed to amoebas.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Out of Siberian Ice, a Virus Revived|work=The New York Times|date=3 March 2014|date=Carl Zimmer|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/science/out-of-siberian-ice-a-virus-revived.html|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> The [[amoebas]] started dying and when examined were found to contain giant virus specimens. The genus name Pithovirus, a reference to large storage containers of ancient Greece known as pithos, was chosen to describe the new species. The authors said they got the idea to probe permafrost samples for new viruses after reading about an experiment that revived a similar aged seed of Silene stenophylla two years earlier.<ref name=Nature /> The Pithovirus findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2014.<ref name=NatGeo>{{cite news|title=Ancient "Giant Virus" Revived From Siberian Permafrost|work=National Geographic|date=3 March 2014|author=Stefan Sirucek|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140303-giant-virus-permafrost-siberia-pithovirus-pandoravirus-science/|accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> | ||
Although the [[virus]] is harmless to humans, its viability after being frozen for millennia has raised concerns that global climate change and tundra drilling operations could lead to previously undiscovered and potentially deadly viruses being unearthed. | Although the [[virus]] is harmless to humans, its viability after being frozen for millennia has raised concerns that global climate change and tundra drilling operations could lead to previously undiscovered and potentially deadly viruses being unearthed.<ref name=NatGeo /> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 14:42, 5 March 2014
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pithovirus is a genus of giant virus known from one species, Pithovirus sibericum, which infects amoebas.[1][2] It is a double-stranded DNA virus, and is member of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses clade. It was first described in 2014 after a specimen was revived from a 30,000-year-old ice core harvested from Siberia's permafrost.
Description
A specimen of Pithovirus measures approximately 1.5 µm in length and 0.5 µm in diameter, making it the largest virus yet found. It is 50% larger than the pandoraviruses, the previous largest known viruses.[3] The species has a thick, oval wall with an opening at one end. Internally, its structure resembles a honeycomb.[1]
The genome of Pithovirus contains approximately 500 distinct genes, more than a typical virus but an order of magnitude less than found in Pandoravirus.[3] Thus, its genome is far less densely packed than any other known virus. Two-thirds of its proteins are unlike those of other viruses. Despite the physical similarity with Pandoravirus, the Pithovirus genome sequence reveals that it is barely related to that virus, but more closely resembles members of Marseilleviridae, Megaviridae and Iridoviridae. These families all contain large icosahedral viruses with DNA genomes. The Pithovirus genome has 36% GC-content, similar to the Megaviridae, in contrast to greater than 61% for pandoraviruses.
Replication
The viral genome encodes all the proteins needed to produce mRNA; these proteins are present in the purified virions.[4] Pithovirus therefore undergoes its entire replication cycle in its host's cytoplasm, like other large DNA viruses such as poxviruses and the Megaviridae (although unlike Pandoravirus), rather than the more typical method of taking over the host's nucleus.[1][4][5]
Discovery
Pithovirus sibericum was discovered in a 30,000 year old sample of Siberian permafrost by Chantal Abergel and Jean-Michel Claverie of Aix-Marseille University.[1] The virus was discovered buried 30 m (98 ft) below the surface of a late Pleistocene sediment.[2][4] It was found when riverbank samples harvested in 2000 were exposed to amoebas.[6] The amoebas started dying and when examined were found to contain giant virus specimens. The genus name Pithovirus, a reference to large storage containers of ancient Greece known as pithos, was chosen to describe the new species. The authors said they got the idea to probe permafrost samples for new viruses after reading about an experiment that revived a similar aged seed of Silene stenophylla two years earlier.[1] The Pithovirus findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2014.[3]
Although the virus is harmless to humans, its viability after being frozen for millennia has raised concerns that global climate change and tundra drilling operations could lead to previously undiscovered and potentially deadly viruses being unearthed.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Yong, Ed (3 March 2014). "Giant virus resurrected from 30,000-year-old ice : Nature News & Comment". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature.2014.14801.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morelle, Rebecca (3 March 2014). "30,000-year-old giant virus 'comes back to life'". BBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sirucek, Stefan (3 March 2014). "Ancient "Giant Virus" Revived From Siberian Permafrost". National Geographic. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Racaniello, Vincent (4 March 2014). "Pithovirus: Bigger than Pandoravirus with a smaller genome". Virology Blog. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ↑ Coghlan, Andy (3 March 2014). "Biggest-ever virus revived from Stone Age permafrost". NewScientist. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ↑ "Out of Siberian Ice, a Virus Revived". The New York Times. Carl Zimmer. Retrieved 3 March 2014. Check date values in:
|date=(help)