Pandoraviridae


Pandoraviridae is a proposed family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect amoebae. There is only one genus in this family: Pandoravirus. Several species in this genus have been described, including Pandoravirus dulcis, Pandoravirus salinus and Pandoravirus yedoma.

History

The viruses were discovered in 2013.

Description

The viruses in this family are the second largest known virus in capsid length, after Pithovirus. Pandoravirus has the largest viral genome known, containing double-stranded DNA of 1.9 to 2.5 megabase pairs.

Evolution

These viruses may be related to the phycodnaviruses.