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Naiavirus: an enveloped giant virus with a pleomorphic, flexible tail

Author

Listed:
  • Matheus Rodrigues

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Victória Queiroz

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia
    Sexto Distrito Naval da Marinha do Brasil)

  • Thalita Arantes

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Henrique Limborço

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Bruna Neiva

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Nidia Arias

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Talita Machado

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Matheus Barcelos

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Juliana R. Cortines

    (Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes)

  • Otavio Henrique Thiemann

    (Physics Institute of Sao Carlos)

  • Rafael Elias Marques

    (Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM))

  • Talita Diniz Melo-Hanchuk

    (Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM))

  • Eliana Leonor Hurtado Celis

    (Bioscience Institute and Institute of Biotechnology (IBTEC))

  • João Pessoa Araujo Jr

    (Bioscience Institute and Institute of Biotechnology (IBTEC))

  • Erik Reis

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara

    (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and Expanded Navigation for Intensive and Optimized Surveillance (NAVIO) Network)

  • Cezar Batista Cunha Santos

    (Sexto Distrito Naval da Marinha do Brasil)

  • Abdeali Jivaji

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Rodrigo A. L. Rodrigues

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

  • Frank O. Aylward

    (Virginia Tech
    Virginia Tech)

  • Jônatas Santos Abrahão

    (Departamento de Microbiologia / Centro de Microscopia)

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that viruses are present in a variety of environments on Earth, acting as drivers of biogeochemical cycles and powerful selective forces. Among them, giant viruses of amoebae have garnered attention from the scientific community due to their large particles and extensive genomes. Here, we describe the discovery of one of the largest tailed viruses in the known virosphere (averaging 1350 nm), named Naiavirus. This virus, isolated from a swamp biome in Brazil, has particles with a never-before-seen morphology and composition, and represents the first giant amoeba virus with an external envelope covering the capsid and extending over a flexible tail region. The Naiavirus genome, with nearly 1 million base pairs, reveals a unique set of genes, and does not resemble any other virus previously isolated so far.

Suggested Citation

  • Matheus Rodrigues & Victória Queiroz & Thalita Arantes & Henrique Limborço & Bruna Neiva & Nidia Arias & Talita Machado & Matheus Barcelos & Juliana R. Cortines & Otavio Henrique Thiemann & Rafael Eli, 2025. "Naiavirus: an enveloped giant virus with a pleomorphic, flexible tail," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63463-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63463-6
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