Mavirus virophage

Mavirus virophage
Virus classification
Group: Group I (dsDNA)
Family: Lavidaviridae
Genus: Mavirus
Type species
Cafeteriavirus-dependent mavirus

Mavirus virophage is a double stranded DNA virus that infects the marine phagotrophic flagellate Cafeteria roenbergensis in the presence of a second virus — Cafeteria roenbergensis virus.[1] Mavirus can integrate into the genome of cells of C. roenbergensis, and thereby confer immunity to the population [2]

The name is derived from Maverick virus.

The virophage was discovered by Matthias G. Fischer of the University of British Columbia while he was working on Cafeteria roenbergensis virus as part of his PhD.

Virology

The genome is 19,063 bases in length and encodes 20 predicted coding sequences. Seven have homology to the Maverick/Polinton family of transposons.

The genome encodes a retroviral integrase, an adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), a cysteine protease and a protein primed DNA polymerase B.

Classification

Mavirus virophage is the type species of the genus Mavirus in the family Lavidaviridae, which has been established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses in 2016.[3]

References

  1. Fischer MG, Suttle CA (April 2011). "A virophage at the origin of large DNA transposons". Science. 332 (6026): 231–4. doi:10.1126/science.1199412. PMID 21385722.
  2. Fischer MG, Hackl (December 2016). "Host genome integration and giant virus-induced reactivation of the virophage mavirus". Nature. 540: 288–91. doi:10.1038/nature20593. PMID 27929021.
  3. Krupovic, M; Kuhn, JH; Fischer, MG (January 2016). "A classification system for virophages and satellite viruses" (PDF). Archives of Virology. 161 (1): 233–47. doi:10.1007/s00705-015-2622-9. PMID 26446887.


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