Scientists find a giant virus with a unique shape, similar to Medusa and a poinsettia: Okezone techno

FOR scientists find viruses that have a unique shape and appearance, one might even say like an alien. Uniquely, these viruses can actually be taken from a ground in the forest.

Soil samples were collected in 2019 from Harvard Forest, then sent to the Max Planck Institute in Germany to be examined using an electron microscope, which magnifies objects using an electron beam. This suggests that the ground is filled with viruses up to 635 nanometers wide.

This size is also classified as “giant” in the virus world, although there are still other giant viruses that are 1,500 nm wide. However, the size of this virus is much larger than viruses usually found in humans, such as Covid-19, which are 50-140 nm in size.

“Transmission electron microscopy revealed a surprising diversity of virus-like particles. Surprisingly, we found that a few hundred grams of forest soil contained more viruses than all the giant viruses isolated so far,” wrote the researchers as reported by Live Science .

One of these exotic giant viruses has large limbs arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Researchers also describe this virus as a turtle.

Another virus has long tubes sticking out of all sides, resembling the ancient Greek mythological character, Medusa. Scientists have also called this structure the “Gorgon,” a creature called Medusa and her two sisters.

Another category of viruses resembles stuffed Trolls, as they have messy “haircuts” with fibers of various lengths.

Another giant virus in this “supernova” form has a thick strand of fibers near the capsid shell and a thick layer of regularly arranged tendrils on the outside.

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