Megaklothovirus horridgei
Largest virus ever discovered
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Megaklothovirus horridgei is the largest virus ever discovered. It is 3.9 μm long, which is about twice the length of an Escherichia coli bacterium.[1] It was first discovered in 2018 on an arrow worm of the genus Spadella that it was infecting.[2] Before Megaklothovirus horridgei was understood to be a giant virus, it had been mistaken for bristles in 1967, and later for bacteria in 2003.[3][4]
| Megaklothovirus horridgei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Megaklothovirus horridgei compared to HIV and E. coli | |
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | |
| Family: | Klothoviridae |
| Genus: | Megaklothovirus |
| Species: | Megaklothovirus horridgei |
Name
Megaklothovirus horridgei is named in tribute to Adrian Horridge,[5] the author of the 1967 article in which the viruses were mistaken for bristles.