Growing a giant: Evaluation of the virological parameters for mimivirus production

Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APMV) was described in 2003, and due to its unique structural and genetic complexity, the viral family Mimiviridae was created. APMV prompted the creation of an open field of study on the function of hundreds of never-before-seen open reading frames (ORFs) and their roles in virus–host interactions. In recent years, several giant viruses have been isolated from different environments and specimens. Although the...