Genomic adaptation of giant viruses in polar oceans - Nature Communications

This study examines the biogeography and functional gene repertoires of marine eukaryote-infecting large and giant DNA viruses.

Probing the permafrost that could release 50,000-year-old viruses

Discoveries by virologist Jean-Michel Claverie shine a light on a little-known risk of global warming as it thaws ground frozen for millenniums

A Parasite Odyssey: An RNA virus concealed in Toxoplasma gondii

Characterization of crAss-like phage isolates highlights Crassvirales genetic heterogeneity and worldwide distribution - Nature Communications

Here, the authors report the isolation and genetic characterization of 25 unique crAss-like phages (termed “crAssBcn”) infecting Bacteroides intestinalis, and show that CrAssBcn phages are commonly found in fecal samples from people around the globe,…

A fantastical world of potential giant viruses lurks beneath the soil

Giant viruses were already known for their large sizes. A close look at a scoop of soil shows that they may come in a variety of funky shapes as well.

Scientists discover how parasites of viruses drive superbug evolution

In a study published in Cell, scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Imperial College London have discovered a new way by which bacteria transmit their genes, enabling them to evolve much faster than previously understood.

Phylogenetic diversity and functional potential of large and cell-associated viruses in the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal (BoB), the largest bay in the world, provides valuable ecosystem services such as fishing and recreation to millions of people living along its coast and has a significant economic value.

Where do viruses hide in the human body?

The question of how SARS-CoV-2 persists in the body has refocused scientists on the question of where viruses persist in humans more generally.

Amazing structural diversity of giant virus-like particles in forest soil

Large DNA viruses of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota infect diverse eukaryotic hosts from protists to humans, with profound consequences for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Homing in on the rare virosphere reveals the native host of giant viruses

Giant viruses (phylum Nucleocytoviricota) are globally distributed in aquatic ecosystems They play major roles as evolutionary drivers of eukaryotic plankton and regulators of global biogeochemical cycles.

A Novel Group of Dynamin-Related Proteins Shared by Eukaryotes and Giant Viruses Is Able to Remodel Mitochondria From Within the Matrix

Abstract. The diverse GTPases of the dynamin superfamily play various roles in the cell, as exemplified by the dynamin-related proteins (DRPs) Mgm1 and Opa1, wh

Are viruses keeping sea lice at bay in wild salmon?

More than 30 previously unknown RNA viruses in sea lice have been identified by University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers.

Built Into the Genome of the Microbes – Scientists Uncover Over 30,000 “Hidden” Viruses

Unveiled within the DNA of unicellular organisms lie thousands of enigmatic viruses. Researchers at the University of Innsbruck, utilizing the high-performance computing cluster known as "Leo," have identified more than 30,000 new viruses embedded wi…

TWiV 1011: Aquatic viruses

Vincent travels to Québec City, Canada and the 11th Aquatic Virus Workshop, where he speaks with Frank Aylward and Jed Furman about the research of their lab...

'Bioprospecting' technique uncovers viruses that can kill deadly superbugs

In a modern take on the Victorian gold rush, a Monash University-led project is successfully "bioprospecting" for viruses known as phages that can kill deadly superbugs.

Beyond pathogenesis: Detecting the full spectrum of ecological interactions in the virosphere

Viral interactions with their hosts are complex and can be beneficial, yet the public perception of viruses is generally negative.

Beyond pathogenesis: Detecting the full spectrum of ecological interactions in the virosphere

Viral interactions with their hosts are complex and can be beneficial, yet the public perception of viruses is generally negative.

Viral infections likely mediate microbial controls on ecosystem responses to global warming

We provide a roadmap for understanding how viral infections within microbial food webs may mediate the effects of global warming on ecosystem carbon and nutrien

Hijacking strategy mapped for hundreds of viruses

One strategy that viruses use to take over a host cell is to mimic small parts of the cell's proteins called motifs.

Assessing the biogeography of marine giant viruses in four oceanic transects - ISME Communications

ISME Communications - Assessing the biogeography of marine giant viruses in four oceanic transects

Cheating leads to the evolution of multipartite viruses

In multipartite viruses, the genome is split into multiple segments, each of which is transmitted via a separate capsid.

Unexplored diversity and ecological functions of transposable phages - The ISME Journal

The ISME Journal - Unexplored diversity and ecological functions of transposable phages

Mirusviruses link herpesviruses to giant viruses - Nature

A phylogeny-guided genome-resolved metagenomic analysis of DNA viruses in the ocean reveals atypical plankton-infecting relatives of herpesviruses that form a putative new phylum dubbed Mirusviricota.

Near-atomic architecture of Singapore grouper iridovirus and implications for giant virus assembly - Nature Communications

High morbidity and mortality in aquatic have been caused by iridovirids worldwide. Here the authors present a near-atomic SGIV capsid structure. Functional assays further reveal the relationships between identified capsid proteins and viral assembly.

In-depth study of tomato and weed viromes reveals undiscovered plant virus diversity in an agroecosystem - Microbiome

Background In agroecosystems, viruses are well known to influence crop health and some cause phytosanitary and economic problems, but their diversity in non-crop plants and role outside the disease perspective is less known.

Non-structural genes of novel lemur adenoviruses reveal codivergence of virus and host

Abstract. Adenoviruses are important human and animal pathogens, and are frequently used as vectors for gene therapy and vaccine delivery. Surprisingly, there a

VirBot: an RNA viral contig detector for metagenomic data

AbstractSummary. Without relying on cultivation, metagenomic sequencing greatly accelerated the novel RNA virus detection. However, it is not trivial to accurat

Identification and characterization of thousands of bacteriophage satellites across bacteria

Abstract. Bacteriophage–bacteria interactions are affected by phage satellites, elements that exploit phages for transfer between bacteria. Satellites can encod

Influenza A virus coinfection dynamics are shaped by distinct virus-virus interactions within and between cells

Author summary The co-occurrence of distinct virus populations within a single host occurs commonly, when an individual acquires a second infection before a prior one has been cleared.

Pathogen detection in RNA-seq data with Pathonoia - BMC Bioinformatics

Background Bacterial and viral infections may cause or exacerbate various human diseases and to detect microbes in tissue, one method of choice is RNA sequencing.

Identifying the core genome of the nucleus-forming bacteriophage family and characterization of Erwinia phage RAY

We recently discovered that some bacteriophages establish a nucleus-like replication compartment (phage nucleus), but the core genes that define nucleus-based phage replication and their phylogenetic distribution were unknown.

The ϕPA3 phage nucleus is enclosed by a self-assembling 2D crystalline lattice - Nature Communications

To protect from host attack, numerous jumbo bacteriophages establish a micron-scale, protein-based structure to enclose their replicating DNA.

A Phylogenetic Study of Dengue Virus in Urban Vietnam shows Long-term Persistence of Endemic Strains

AbstractBackground. DENV causes repeated outbreaks of disease in endemic areas, with patterns of local transmission strongly influenced by seasonality, importat