Size of some Viruses

[Lance]

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2073733-how-giant-viruses-could-rewrite-the-story-of-life-on-earth/

Interesting the size of some newly discovered viruses ...

Big unfriendly giants?

Giant viruses are probably all around us (see main story). There’s also evidence that they hang out inside our bodies: they have been found in human blood and even a contact lens case. Plus, several studies have linked them with diseases like pneumonia. So are they a threat to us?

So far, no major alarms have been sounded. But researchers have shown that one giant virus can get into a type of white blood cell called a macrophage. A study of people with pneumonia also showed that a small fraction had antibodies against the virus in their blood. This has led some to suggest that giant viruses play some role in human diseases. We don’t yet know if that’s true or what the role might be.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Lance