Posted on 12/08/2005 4:21:38 PM PST by neverdem
The complex interior of a Mimivirus. Electron microscopy at magnification of about 200. Credit: D. Raoult, N. Aldrovandi
A Mimivirus particle infecting an amoeba cell. Electron microscopy at magnification of about 200. Credit: D. Raoult, N. Aldrovandi
McAfee can handle this just fine.
Same thoughts ran through my head too... yay techies.
So James Carville HAS reproduced?
Here's an abstract from another analysis of the virus. It is very interesting.
Virol. 2005 Nov;79(22):14095-101.
Gene and genome duplication in Acanthamoeba polyphaga Mimivirus.
Suhre K.
Information Genomique et Structurale, UPR CNRS 2589, 31 Chemin Joseph-Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France. karsten.suhre@igs.cnrs-mrs.fr
Gene duplication is key to molecular evolution in all three domains of life and may be the first step in the emergence of new gene function. It is a well-recognized feature in large DNA viruses but has not been studied extensively in the largest known virus to date, the recently discovered Acanthamoeba polyphaga Mimivirus. Here, I present a systematic analysis of gene and genome duplication events in the mimivirus genome. I found that one-third of the mimivirus genes are related to at least one other gene in the mimivirus genome, either through a large segmental genome duplication event that occurred in the more remote past or through more recent gene duplication events, which often occur in tandem. This shows that gene and genome duplication played a major role in shaping the mimivirus genome. Using multiple alignments, together with remote-homology detection methods based on Hidden Markov Model comparison, I assign putative functions to some of the paralogous gene families. I suggest that a large part of the duplicated mimivirus gene families are likely to interfere with important host cell processes, such as transcription control, protein degradation, and cell regulatory processes. My findings support the view that large DNA viruses are complex evolving organisms, possibly deeply rooted within the tree of life, and oppose the paradigm that viral evolution is dominated by lateral gene acquisition, at least in regard to large DNA viruses.
This virus is known to burn the eyes and cause severe "turtling".
Would that be the screaming mimivirus? I remember those screaming mimis man they could tear you to shreds!
Very cool. A giant intracellular parasite that has both amino acids in it. I smell a science fiction movie...
Holy cow...you could drive a fleet of nano-semi-tractor-trailor-trucks down that thing side-by-side.
No movie.
Just pay attention to the Democratic party.
Now we know what their problem is.
LVM
have we done this one?
No, we haven't. Think the list should be deployed?
Maybe our froggy friends can make a new strain of cheese with it....
I think it's pretty cool. I don't know enough to have any intelligent comments, but I'd like to hear what others say.
How insensitive of you to suggest that Democrats are parasites!
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Evolution in action?
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