A giant virus, sometimes referred to as a girus, is a very large virus, some of which are larger than typical bacteria. [1][2] All known giant viruses belong to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota.

Jan 2, 2026 · Lurking in the vast expanse of the ocean and buried deep in the Siberian permafrost, there are giants—not blue whales and mammoths, but giant viruses.

Here, we provide an updated quantitative and qualitative view on giant viruses and elaborate on their shared and variable features. We review the complexity of giant viral proteomes, which include …

May 31, 2025 · Giant viruses represent a complex and heterogeneous group of viruses capable of infecting organisms ranging from unicellular eukaryotes to animals. These viruses belong to the …

Dec 1, 2023 · Hidden for many years and serendipitously discovered, giant viruses have emerged as a captivating subject of scientific interest, leading to significant discoveries and paradigm shifts in our …

2 days ago · The origin of life on Earth becomes even more fascinating and complex as we peer into the mysterious world of viruses. Said to have existed since living cells first appeared, these microscopic ...

May 18, 2022 · Giant viruses are a part of a group of nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLVD) whose viral particle magnitude, structure, genome length, and complexity are larger than the …

6 days ago · The recent discovery of widespread giant virus sequences integrated into the genomes of diverse eukaryotes, and in particular marine lineages, has reignited interest in the molecular …

2 days ago · For decades, the origin of complex cells has felt like a settled story, tidy and comfortably cellular. But a newly discovered giant virus from a Japanese freshwater pond is reopening a far …

They are sometimes called a girus. Some of them are larger than typical bacteria. [1][2] All known giant viruses belong to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota. [3] The genomes of many giant viruses code for …