Discovered a giant virus that 'eats alive' bacteria

The virus was found to be about 15 times the size of normal, contains ribosomes and is capable of performing DNA instructions to build proteins.

An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley recently discovered that phage bacteria (viruses that infect bacteria) can contain up to four times more genes than other bacteria. Some are 15 times larger than normal, with 735,000 base pairs - DNA nucleotides.

Virus attacks bacteria containing ribosomes, translating DNA codes to build proteins.(Photo: Shutterstock).

The virus is not only giant in size but also "more advanced" with the cell system that can read code, perform DNA instructions to build proteins. This process is also known as code translation . That special ability raises questions about the scientists' understanding of the definition of "life" of viruses.

Virus kill bacteria lurks in hot water ecosystems, freshwater lakes, even in human saliva. Normally, a virus is considered a "non-living" type because it cannot replicate on its own and grows outside the host. The boundary for classifying viruses and bacteria is ribosomes (polypeptide syntheses based on the coding pattern of information RNA) and the ability to translate code, according to Rohan Sachdeva, a microbiologist from the University of California, Berkeley. . It blurs the line between the life and death of viruses.

In fact, these viruses are so advanced, they inject the target bacteria, take control of their genetic construction equipment and make copies. Giant viruses also use this device to fight competing phages seeking to eat the "prey bacteria" it targets.

Microbiologist Basem Al-Shayeb said that beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria coexist within the body. They can understand which types of bacteria are symbiotic with themselves in humans and animals, how they affect their hosts.

This discovery has profound implications in the scientific study of viruses, and brings new discoveries on the physical health, the human spirit, as well as the internal flora of our intestines. Scientists can gain a better understanding of what phagees possess, which helps to better control the intestinal flora, thereby creating a revolution in some areas of medicine, treating diseases. The disease has no cure.

• The newly discovered giant virus can change our definition of a virus
• Giant virus detection raises the question of what is life?