What is mimivirus?

Mimivirus is the largest known virus. Specifically, Mimimivirus refers to a viral genus, but contains only one kind - acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APMV) , so the terms are used interchangeably. Mimivirus was discovered by accident in 1992 during the research of legionnaires carried out by French scientists in Marseille. Only in 2003 was an article identifying the organism as a virus and explaining some of its functioning. The reaction to the microbial research community has been considerable since then. Some even go so far that they call Mimivirus a "missing connection" between viruses and bacteria. Herpes simplex virus , the virus responsible for the Herpes type 1, is another example of DNA virus. Mimivirus is so large (400 nm) that scientists originally thought it was a gram-positive bacterium when they first discovered it. The virus is well known because it is that it is the largest virus observed so far, and thanks to other properties it blurring the boundary between viruses and bacteria. Mimivirus genomeconsists of 1.2 million pairs of bases. Based on metagenomic data, other viruses in the same family - mimiviridae - are expected to exist. The search is currently underway and new microbes are constantly appearing.

Mimivirus infects amoeba (where it was first discovered) and does not pose a threat to human beings. Its structure is the structure of the polygon covered with fibrils (hair), which, if included in the virus measurement, can double its apparent size. Like other large viruses, it has an inner lipid layer that protects its DNA core. Its genome has a length of approximately 1.2 million pairs of bases and has not yet been seized. This genome is twice the bigger known viral genome. Although, like all viruses, it does not have a cell wall, Mimivirus is greater than at least 30 of the smallest known cell organisms. Mimivirus genome has unique genes that code with metaboLick functions that have not been seen in other viruses, and therefore his studies will teach us important new things about life in his most basic forms.

Mimivirus is so unusual that some scientists have suggested that it can be part of the new kingdom of life. But because the system of classification of life has only been rebuilt and most scientists would not consider creating a new kingdom of life with only one member, no matter how different it is, it is unlikely that a wider biological community will be accepted.