Researchers at the Nanoscience Center in Finland have made a groundbreaking discovery, isolating a giant virus from Finnish soil for the first time. The newly discovered virus, named Jyvaskylavirus, is about 200 nanometers in diameter and has been found to be related to viruses previously isolated from France.
According to Professor Lotta-Riina Sundberg of the University of Jyväskylä, the discovery provides new insights into the interactions between microbes and the role of viruses in regulating populations. Giant viruses are known to infect amoebas and other microscopic organisms, but their life cycles and distribution are poorly understood.
The study highlights that giant viruses are more prevalent than previously thought in northern regions, including soil and water. The discovery sheds light on the structure of these viruses and their potential impact on ecosystems.
The finding has significant implications for understanding the complex relationships between microbes and viruses in the environment. As Sundberg noted, “this discovery will help us understand the interactions between microbes and the role of viruses in regulating populations of all living organisms.”
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-giant-virus-finland.html