medusavirus

See also: Medusavirus

English

Etymology

Ancient Greek Μέδουσα (Médousa, “Medusa”) + -virus. From Latin virus (“virus”). From being a virus which can turn amoeba into stone-like cysts. From Medusa, the Greek mythological figure which could petrify people with a glance.

Noun

medusavirus (plural medusaviruses)

1. (virology) A giant virus infecting amoebae causing them to shrivel and harden.
   • 2019 February 6, Genki Yoshikawa et al., “Medusavirus, a Novel Large DNA Virus Discovered from Hot Spring Water”, in Journal of Virology, →DOI:

     Here, we report the novel features of medusavirus, a large DNA virus newly isolated from hot spring water in Japan.

   • 2020 January 17, Sho Fukaya et al., “Kinetic Analysis of the Motility of Giant Virus-Infected Amoebae Using Phase-Contrast Microscopic Images”, in Frontiers in Microbiology, →DOI:

     On the other hand, medusavirus-infected amoeba cells show moderately decreased cell motility later than those of mimivirus-infected cells and change the cells to a cyst-like formation.

   • 2020 January 22, Frederik Shulz et al., “Giant virus diversity and host interactions through global metagenomics”, in Nature, volume 578, →DOI, pages 432–436:

     MGVL27, medusaviruses, sylvanviruses and MGVL24 represented the viral lineages with the highest genome novelty...