We found a giant virus that looks like a weird, loose bag with a long tail, and it literally generates its own light energy.
March 30, 2026
Original Paper
Evidence for the acquisition of a proteorhodopsin-like rhodopsin by a chrysophyte-infecting giant virus
bioRxiv · 2025.06.17.660233
AI-generated illustration
The Takeaway
This is the first isolated virus from a widespread group of protist-infecting giant viruses. It possesses a morphology never before seen in nature—including a membrane that significantly extends its size—and contains 'borrowed' bacterial genes for harvesting light, suggesting it may manipulate its host's energy production.
From the abstract
Chrysophytes are widespread nanoflagellate protists in aquatic ecosystems with diverse trophic roles as primary producers and bacterivores. While molecular evidence suggests that chrysophytes are commonly infected by giant viruses, no previous isolates have been reported. Here, we describe the first isolated chrysophyte-infecting virus, Chrysophyceae Clade H virus SA1 (ChrysoHV). ChrysoHV and its mixotrophic host were isolated from surface waters in the tropical North Pacific. The ChrysoHV capsi