Scientists have discovered a giant virus with unexpected features for the first time

Scientists have discovered a giant virus that infects marine plankton - it has the longest known viral appendage, reaching 2.3 micrometers.

This is evidenced by a study reported on the BioRxiv portal.

The new virus PelV-1 was found in the northern part of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. It infects Pelagodinium sp., a unicellular algae important for symbiosis with corals and other marine organisms. The virus is distinguished by its giant capsid and two unique structures: a thin and flexible "tail" more than two micrometers long and a short thick appendage on the opposite side.

According to BioRxiv, the virus genome consists of 459 thousand base pairs and contains dozens of unusual genes. Among them are enzymes for the Krebs cycle, light-sensitive proteins and rhodopsin, aquaporins, and genes associated with photosynthesis. These features allow the virus to change the metabolism of the host cell, including energy processes.

Scientists also discovered a second, less common virus - co-PelV. Its genome consists of 504 thousand base pairs. Both viruses belong to the Mesomimiviridae family. They infect phytoplankton, which is the foundation of marine food chains. According to BioRxiv, these are rare viruses, and studying them helps to better understand how viruses affect ocean productivity, global biochemical cycles, and climate.