A giant virus infecting the amoeboflagellate Naegleria

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47308-2

#viruses #giantViruses #microbiology

A giant virus infecting the amoeboflagellate Naegleria - Nature Communications

This is the first report on a virus infecting the amoeboflagellate Naegleria, including the lethal human pathogen N. fowleri.

^Nature

Happy to share the latest manuscript from our lab, in which we propose that eukaryotes evolved from a genomic chimera of Asgard archaea and giant viruses.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.22.590592v1

This is a controversial topic, but we believe we have strong evidence to suggest a critical viral role in eukaryogenesis.

#viruses #protists #eukaryotes #evolution #TreeOfLIfe #archaea

Chimeric Origin of Eukaryotes from Asgard Archaea and Ancestral Giant Viruses

The details surrounding the evolution of complex cells remain some of the most enduring mysteries in biology.

^bioRxiv

Hot springs viruses at Yellowstone National Park have ancient origins and are adapted to thermophilic hosts

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-05931-1

#viruses #virology #extremophiles

Hot springs viruses at Yellowstone National Park have ancient origins and are adapted to thermophilic hosts - Communications Biology

Analysis of the virus community associated with red algal mats in Yellowstone National Park shows it to be dominated by Megaviricetes, with resident virus lineages being of ancient origin and encoding genomic footprints of adaptation to thermophily.

^Nature

Viruses Finally Reveal Their Complex Social Life
https://www.quantamagazine.org/viruses-finally-reveal-their-complex-social-life-20240411/ by @Carl_Zimmer

Open questions in the social lives of viruses https://academic.oup.com/jeb/article/36/11/1551/7577264

"New research has uncovered a social world of #viruses full of cheating, cooperation and other intrigues, suggesting that viruses make sense only as members of a community."

Who are giant viruses infecting in the ocean?

In a collaborative paper with the Vardi lab, we were able to link many giant virus lineages to protist hosts using #SingleCell #RNASeq. One #protist host (leucocryptos) made up less than 1% of the community, but we could still identify a cryptic viral lineage infecting it, leading to population collapse.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01669-y

#marine #viruses #microbiology

Single-cell RNA-seq of the rare virosphere reveals the native hosts of giant viruses in the marine environment - Nature Microbiology

Active infections of giant viruses in their marine protists hosts are tracked at single-cell resolution, showing that, despite being rare, these viruses still impact microbial population dynamics.

^Nature

Our latest commentary about a cool recent paper on virophage-mediated defense against giant #viruses!

March of the proviruses

https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2402541121

#virology #microbiology

Nice paper examining virophage-mediated antiviral defense in protists!

Endogenous virophages are active and mitigate giant virus infection in the marine protist Cafeteria burkhardae

https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2314606121

#viruses #virology #protists

The Simons Foundation has amazing #postdoc #fellowships for anyone interested in #marine microbial #ecology or #evolution.

I'd love to sponsor anyone interested in viral diversity!

Please spread the word!

https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-postdoctoral-fellowships-in-marine-microbial-ecology/?mc_cid=3818457af5&mc_eid=0969502559

#viruses #microbiology

Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Marine Microbial Ecology | Simons Foundation

The Simons Foundation invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships to support candidates who intend to pursue a career in basic research on fundamental problems in marine microbial ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the role of microorga…

^{Simons Foundation}

Large language models improve annotation of prokaryotic viral proteins

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01584-8

#virology #viruses #bioinformatics #genomics

Large language models improve annotation of prokaryotic viral proteins - Nature Microbiology

Ocean viral proteome annotations are expanded by a machine learning approach that is not reliant on sequence homology and can annotate sequences not homologous to those seen in training.

^Nature

Another interesting study suggesting that giant viruses can control phototaxis in their hosts during infection

"Hijacking of internal calcium dynamics by intracellularly residing viral rhodopsins"

"... we show here that light irradiation reversibly modified tail movements of OLPVR1-expressing frog tadpoles."

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44548-6

#viruses #GiantViruses #virology

Hijacking of internal calcium dynamics by intracellularly residing viral rhodopsins - Nature Communications

Rhodopsins are ubiquitous light-driven membrane proteins that have diverse functions in nature, and value as optogenetics tools.

^Nature

Daily turnover of active giant virus infection during algal blooms revealed by single-cell transcriptomics

"A consistent percent of infected coccolithophores displayed the early phase of viral replication for several consecutive days, indicating a daily turnover and continuous virocell-associated metabolite production, potentially affecting the surrounding microbiome"

https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adf7971

#viruses #algae #HAB #ocean #marine #virology

#Viruses of #Plankton: On the Edge of the Viral Frontier

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/31

#virology

Viruses of Plankton: On the Edge of the Viral Frontier

The field of aquatic viral ecology has continued to evolve rapidly over the last three decades [...]

^MDPI

Gene duplication as a major force driving the genome expansion in some giant viruses

https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/jvi.01309-23

#GiantViruses #viruses #virology #genomics

Contrasting drivers of abundant phage and prokaryotic communities revealed in diverse coastal ecosystems

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43705-023-00333-6

#marine #viruses #phages #ocean #microbiology #virology

Contrasting drivers of abundant phage and prokaryotic communities revealed in diverse coastal ecosystems - ISME Communications

ISME Communications - Contrasting drivers of abundant phage and prokaryotic communities revealed in diverse coastal ecosystems

^Nature

Kratosvirus quantuckense: the history and novelty of an algal bloom disrupting virus and a model for giant virus research

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1284617

#viruses #marine #ocean #HAB #GiantViruses

Kratosvirus quantuckense: the history and novelty of an algal bloom disrupting virus and a model for giant virus research

Since the discovery of the first “giant virus,” particular attention has been paid toward isolating and culturing these large DNA viruses through Acanthamoeba spp. bait systems.

^Frontiers

Ongoing shuffling of protein fragments diversifies core viral functions linked to interactions with bacterial hosts

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43236-9

#phages #viruses #evolution #genomics

Ongoing shuffling of protein fragments diversifies core viral functions linked to interactions with bacterial hosts - Nature Communications

Proteins are composed of distinct functional domains, each serving a specific role. Here, Smug et al. show that phages are able to shuffle fragments of their proteins and this predominantly occurs in proteins involved in bacterial host interactions.

^Nature

New #ISEPpapers! The #protist #Aurantiochytrium has universal subtelomeric rDNAs and is a host for #mirusviruses: Jackie Collier et al. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)01368-4

#protists #microbes #protistology #microbiology #viruses #virology #genomics

PhD position in viral evolution and diversity @foaylward

Virginia Tech

Funded PhD positions in the Aylward Lab to study the #evolution and #genomics of giant #viruses. Both computational and wet-lab projects available.

See the full job description on jobRxiv: https://jobrxiv.org/job/virginia-tech-27778-funded-phd-position/?feed_id=64662

#ScienceJobs #hiring #research
Blacksburg #UnitedStatesUS ...
https://jobrxiv.org/job/virginia-tech-27778-funded-phd-position/?feed_id=64662

PhD position in viral evolution and diversity

Post a job in 3min, or find thousands of job offers like this one at jobRxiv!

^jobRxiv

Marine #microorganisms are crucial for #ocean health.

#Bacteria, #archaea, #fungi, #algae and #viruses make up most of the biomass in the seas and form the base of marine food webs.

They support nutrient cycling and drive crucial biogeochemical processes, including key steps in the carbon, nitrogen and silicon cycles.

Ocean modelling must evolve to take their biological complexity into account.

#biology #ecology #oceans
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03425-4

‘Oceans are hugely complex’: modelling marine microbes is key to climate forecasts

Microorganisms are the engines that drive most marine processes. Ocean modelling must evolve to take their biological complexity into account.

^{Tagliabue, Alessandro}

Latest taxonomic update for giant viruses, including a new name for the famous mimivirus (now Mimivirus bradfordmassiliense)

Taxonomy for the titans of the virosphere!

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00705-023-05906-3

#GiantViruses #viruses #virology

Taxonomic update for giant viruses in the order Imitervirales (phylum Nucleocytoviricota) - Archives of Virology

Large DNA viruses in the phylum Nucleocytoviricota, sometimes referred to as “giant viruses” owing to their large genomes and virions, have been the subject of burgeoning interest over the last decade.

^SpringerLink

Vampire viruses prey on other #viruses to replicate themselves

#phages

A virus that latches onto the neck of another virus

https://flip.it/MazmGp

Vampire viruses prey on other viruses to replicate themselves − and may hold the key to new antiviral therapies

Researchers discovered a satellite virus latching onto the neck of another virus called MindFlayer. Studying the viral arms race between similar viruses could lead to new ways to fight infections.

^{The Conversation}

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

Nice work from @scubalaina @giant_virus et al!

https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msphere.00407-23

#marine #oceanography #virology

#GiantViruses encode many strange genes in their genomes - partial TCA cycles, actins and myosins, nutrient transporters, etc

What are they doing with all of these crazy genes?

We discuss this in a recent article - big thanks to all of the collaborators who were willing to help write an extensive review!

Virologs, viral mimicry, and #virocell metabolism: the expanding scale of cellular functions encoded in the complex genomes of giant #viruses

https://academic.oup.com/femsre/article/47/5/fuad053/7280998?login=false

#virology

Lessons from Chloroviruses: the Complex and Diverse Roles of Viruses in Food Webs

https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.00275-23

#viruses #virology #ecology #microbiology

Virophages are viruses that infect giant viruses, typically resulting in a lower burst size for the giant virus. In our latest preprint we report virophage-like sequences associated with insect poxviruses.

Their genomes of these elements are really interesting. This also opens up the possibility that hyperparasitic viruses are associated with a much broader range of DNA viruses than is commonly thought.

https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.16.562556

#viruses #virology #poxviruses #GiantViruses

Polinton-like Viruses Associated with Entomopoxviruses Provide Insight into Replicon Evolution

Polinton-like viruses (PLVs) are a diverse group of small integrative dsDNA viruses that infect diverse eukaryotic hosts. Many PLVs are hypothesized to parasitize viruses in the phylum Nucleocytoviricota for their own propagation and spread.

^bioRxiv

Nice study on polar giant viruses!

Genomic adaptation of giant viruses in polar oceans

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41910-6

#viruses #GiantViruses #virology #oceanography #marine #ocean #polar

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.

^Nature

Had enough of #viruses?

Here are the #fungi! https://knowablemagazine.org/article/health-disease/2023/how-climate-change-could-make-fungal-diseases-worse

We live in the age of infectious diseases resurgence

"We are in the midst of the "Platinum Age of Virus Discovery", an era characterized by the exponential growth in the discovery of virus biodiversity. "

A Parasite Odyssey: An RNA virus concealed in Toxoplasma gondii

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.17.558162v1?rss=1

#viruses #virology #microbiology

A Parasite Odyssey: An RNA virus concealed in Toxoplasma gondii

^bioRxiv

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

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40098-z

#phages #bacteriophage #viruses

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,…

^Nature

A fantastical world of potential giant viruses lurks beneath the soil

"These and other peculiar-looking shapes “clearly tell us that we’ve underestimated how structurally diverse these viruses are,”"

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/potential-giant-viruses-soil-microbiology

#viruses #giantViruses

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.

^{Meghan Rosen (Science News Magazine)}

Scientists discover how parasites of #viruses drive #superbug #evolution.

#phages #gene_transfer #lateral_transduction

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-scientists-parasites-viruses-superbug-evolution.html

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.

^{Science X (Phys.org)}

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

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.17.548743v1

#viruses #ecology #marine #ocean #giantViruses

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.

^bioRxiv

Where do #viruses hide in the human body?

📌 Virus particles often hide in “immunoprivileged sites” around the human body, also sometimes called sanctuary sites, that our immune systems don’t monitor or protect as closely as the rest of our bodies. These include the brain, spinal cord, pregnant uterus, testes, and eyes, for which damage by immune cells would be highly problematic

https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1156.short?rss=1

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.

^{The BMJ}

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

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.30.546935v1

#viruses #giantViruses #microbiology

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.

^bioRxiv

Happy to share a collaborative preprint with Assaf Vardi's group in which we use single cell transcriptomics to link giant viruses with their native hosts during a marine algal bloom!

This approach is quite sensitive - we were able to identify viruses infecting one protist group that made up <0.5% of the community.

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

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.27.546645v1

#viruses #giantViruses #ocean #marine

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.

^bioRxiv

It's been a big mystery why giant viruses encode so many proteins involved in vesicular transport and cytoskeletal dynamics. This interesting paper examined a dynamin homolog and found evidence that it's involved in mitochondrial membrane remodelling during infection.

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

https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/40/6/msad134/7190697?login=false

#viruses #GiantViruses #virology

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

^{Sheikh, Shaghayegh (Oxford University Press)}