Pandoraviridae


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

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 appear to be related to the phycodnaviruses.