#virophage

Virophage Discovery and Euclid Telescope's Cosmic Breakthrough. #virus #science #virusfirstpic

Virophage Discovery: In a remarkable discovery that challenges our conventional understanding of virology, scientists have identified a unique virus that preys on other viruses. This rare entity, known as a ‘virophage’, has opened new avenues in the study of viral ecology and the intricate interactions within the microbial world. Virophage Discovery and Euclid Telescope’s Cosmic…

That is like. 10 times the size of the larger range of other viruses.

Other viruses average around 10 genes!

Pandoravirus has 2,500.

That’s fucking insane.

There’s another giant virus, Mamavirus with about half as many genes as Pandoravirus. Mamavirus is an amoebaphage (it preys on amoeba to reproduce!) Well Mamavirus has its own phage. The first Virophage (Sputnik) was discovered connected to a Mamavirus. It altered the production of the Mamaviruses within the amoeba to produce the smaller virophage.

FUCK YOU THEY CAN! THEY’RE CALLED  “VIROPHAGES”

Ok, well, its called the “Sputnik Virophage”, and this is what Wikipedia says about it:

“Virophages are small, double stranded DNA viral phages that require the co-infection of another virus. The co-infecting viruses are typically giant viruses. Virophages rely on the viral replication factory of the co-infecting giant virus for their own replication. One of the characteristics of virophages is that they have a parasitic relationship with the co-infecting virus. Their dependence upon the giant virus for replication often results in the deactivation of the giant viruses. The virophage may improve the recovery and survival of the host organism.”