megaviruses
Megaviruses are a group of large viruses that are significantly larger and possess more genes than most other known viruses. The term "Megavirus" was first used in reference to Mimivirus, a giant virus discovered in 2003. Later, Megavirus chilensis was described in 2011, which lent its name to the broader group. These viruses blur the lines between viruses and cellular life due to their immense size and complex genomes, which can contain hundreds of genes, some of which are involved in protein synthesis and translation.
Megaviruses belong to the family Mimiviridae. They infect amoebas, specifically those found in marine environments. Their