PDA log · 121 words
Proteavirus (Proteavirus pluripotens). Large retrovirus discovered in the seawater of this world.
Radically dissimilar to terrestrial life.
Complex genetic structure. Codons are four base pairs (compared to terrestrial DNA/RNA's three). The core viral genome is 1.4 million base pairs stored in numerous strands—large for an RNA virus. Rapid changes in RNA conformation prevent further analysis.
Accessory genomes contain sequences from infected organisms (primarily seawater microbes). Function unknown.
The viral capsule is built from a polymer commonly produced by life on this world. The human immune system cannot lyse this polymer, so Proteavirus will resist immune reaction. But because Proteavirus does not share a genetic code with human life there is no risk of cross-infection. Further analysis will require specialized virological equipment.
