Mimiviridae  Mimiviridae is a family of viruses. Amoeba and other protists serve as natural hosts. The family is divided in up to 4 subfamilies. Viruses in this family belong to the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus clade (NCLDV), also referred to as giant viruses. "Mimiviridae" is the sole recognized member of order Imitervirales. "Phycodnaviridae" and "Pandoraviridae" of "Algavirales" are sister groups of "Mimiviridae" in many phylogenetic analyses. The first member of this family, Mimivirus, was discovered in 2003, and the first complete genome sequence was published in 2004. However, the mimivirus Cafeteria roenbergensis virus was isolated and partially characterized in 1995, although the host was misidentified at the time, and the virus was designated BV-PW1. Group: dsDNA Family "Mimiviridae" is currently divided into three subfamilies. Furthermore, it has been proposed either to extend "Mimiviridae" by an additional tentative group III (subfamily "Mesomimivirinae") or to classify this group as a sister family "Mesomimiviridae" instead, comprising legacy OLPG (Organic Lake Phycodna Group). This extenion (or sister family) may consist of the following:  This group seems to be closely related to "Mimiviridae" rather than to "Phycodnaviridae" and therefore is sometimes referred to as a further subfamily candidate "Mesomimivirinae". Sometimes the extended family Mimiviridae is referred to as "Megaviridae" although this has not been recognized by ICTV; alternatively the extended group may be referred to just as "Mimiviridae". With recognition of new order "Imitervirales" by the ICTV im march 2020 there is no longer need to extend the "Mimiviridae" family to comprise a group of viruses of the observed high diversity. Instead, the extension (or at least its main clade) may be referred to as a sister family "Mesomimiviridae". Although only a couple of members of this order have been described in detail it seems likely there are many more awaiting description and assignment Unassigned members include "Aureococcus anophagefferens" virus (AaV), CpV-BQ2 and Terra2.