Megavirales

Megavirales is a proposed phylum of viruses that includes some of the largest known viruses. These viruses are characterized by their large genomes, which can range from 0.5 to 1.5 megabases in length. Megaviruses are typically found in marine environments and are known to infect a wide range of eukaryotic hosts, including protists, fungi, and animals.

The term "megavirus" was coined in 2013 to describe a group of large DNA viruses that were discovered in marine environments. Since then, several other large DNA viruses have been identified, and the term "Megavirales" has been proposed to encompass these viruses and others that share similar characteristics.

Megaviruses are notable for their complex life cycles and the diversity of their hosts. They often have multiple genes involved in host cell manipulation and replication, and some have been found to encode proteins involved in the production of secondary metabolites, which may have potential applications in biotechnology.

Despite their size and complexity, megaviruses are not well understood, and much remains to be learned about their biology and ecology. Ongoing research is focused on characterizing the genomes of these viruses, studying their interactions with their hosts, and exploring their potential applications in biotechnology and medicine.