The dual lifestyle of genome‐integrating virophages in protists

Berjón-Otero, Mónica; Koslová, Anna; Fischer, Matthias

doi:10.1111/nyas.14118

Cited by 22 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 86 publications

(201 reference statements)

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“…Over the last decade, virophages have emerged as fascinating viruses that require the presence of a giant virus co-infecting the host cell to replicate. While negative consequences of virophage integration into the host cell genome has recently been discussed [123], they do not seem to cause cytopathic effect in their host cell alone. Their discovery has significantly contributed to expand our knowledge regarding the diversity, evolution, and complexity of viruses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mavirus was found to remain latent until superinfection by its viral host CroV that triggers provirophage expression. This expression seems most likely to be mediated by a CroV-encoded late transcription factor [40,123]. This mechanism might be allowed by specific promoters shared by Mavirus and CroV [87].…”

Section: Virophages As Mobile Genetic Elements Of Giant Viruses Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virophages of Giant Viruses: An Update at Eleven

Mougari

Sahmi-Bounsiar

Levasseur

et al. 2019

Viruses

113

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The last decade has been marked by two eminent discoveries that have changed our perception of the virology field: The discovery of giant viruses and a distinct new class of viral agents that parasitize their viral factories, the virophages. Coculture and metagenomics have actively contributed to the expansion of the virophage family by isolating dozens of new members. This increase in the body of data on virophage not only revealed the diversity of the virophage group, but also the relevant ecological impact of these small viruses and their potential role in the dynamics of the microbial network. In addition, the isolation of virophages has led us to discover previously unknown features displayed by their host viruses and cells. In this review, we present an update of all the knowledge on the isolation, biology, genomics, and morphological features of the virophages, a decade after the discovery of their first member, the Sputnik virophage. We discuss their parasitic lifestyle as bona fide viruses of the giant virus factories, genetic parasites of their genomes, and then their role as a key component or target for some host defense mechanisms during the tripartite virophage–giant virus–host cell interaction. We also present the latest advances regarding their origin, classification, and definition that have been widely discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Virophages As Mobile Genetic Elements Of Giant Viruses Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virophages of Giant Viruses: An Update at Eleven

Mougari

Sahmi-Bounsiar

Levasseur

et al. 2019

Viruses

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, random integration of foreign genetic elements might have considerable impacts on the cell. These repercussions might range from altering its survival to affecting its evolutionary course 51 . In this context, infection with highly virulent virophages, such as mutant Guarani, may be more advantageous for amoebae than integration of Mavirus for C. roenbergensis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A virophage cross-species infection through mutant selection represses giant virus propagation, promoting host cell survival

et al. 2020

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Virus adaptation to new hosts is a major cause of infectious disease emergence. This mechanism has been intensively studied in the context of zoonotic virus spillover, due to its impact on global health. However, it remains unclear for virophages, parasites of giant viruses and potential regulators of microbial communities. Here, we present, for the first time to our knowledge, evidence of cross-species infection of a virophage. We demonstrated that challenging the native population of Guarani virophage with two previously unidentified giant viruses, previously nonpermissive to this virophage, allows the selection of a mutant genotype able to infect these giant viruses. We were able to characterize the potential genetic determinant (deletion) carried by the virophage with the expanded-host range. Our study also highlights the relevant biological impact of this host adaptation by demonstrating that coinfection with the mixture containing the mutant virophage abolishes giant virus production and rescues the host cell population from lysis.

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“…However, random integration of foreign genetic elements might have considerable impacts on the cell. These repercussions might range from altering its survival to affecting its evolutionary course 54 . In this context, infection with highly virulent virophages, such as mutant Guarani, may be more advantageous for amoebae than integration of Mavirus for C. roenbergensis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First evidence of host range expansion in virophages and its potential impact on giant viruses and host cells

Mougari

Chelkha

Sahmi-Bounsiar

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Virophages are satellite-like double stranded DNA viruses whose replication requires the presence of two biological entities, a giant virus and a protist. In this report, we present the first evidence of host range expansion in a virophage. We demonstrated that the Guarani virophage was able to spontaneously expand its viral host range to replicate with two novel giant viruses that were previously nonpermissive to this virophage. We were able to characterize a potential genetic determinant of this cross-species infection. We then highlighted the relevant impact of this host adaptation on giant viruses and protists by demonstrating that coinfection with the mutant virophage abolishes giant virus production and rescues the host cell population from lysis. The results of our study help to elucidate the parasitic lifestyle of virophages and their interactions with giant viruses and protists. author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.

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The dual lifestyle of genome‐integrating virophages in protists

Cited by 22 publications

References 86 publications

Virophages of Giant Viruses: An Update at Eleven

Virophages of Giant Viruses: An Update at Eleven

A virophage cross-species infection through mutant selection represses giant virus propagation, promoting host cell survival

First evidence of host range expansion in virophages and its potential impact on giant viruses and host cells

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