Virophage

Virophages are double-stranded DNA viruses that share properties with satellite viruses and inhibit or impair the reproduction of the auxiliary virus. As other satellite viruses, virophages depend on the coinfection of their host by another virus, typically a giant virus. In contrast to satellite viruses, virophages encode their own DNA replication proteins and are assumed to depend on the transcription proteins provided by the coinfecting giant virus. The virophage usually jeopardizes the reproduction of the auxiliary virus, a phenomenon that is also known from some satellite viruses, but Zamilon is an apparent exception.

Taxonomy

A family - Lavidaviridae - for the double stranded DNA virophages has been proposed with the two genera Sputnikvirus and Mavirus.[1] The genus "Sputnikvirus" (in the family "Lavidaviridae") has been proposed to contain Zamilon and other Sputnik-like virophages. As of 2016, these assignments have yet to be ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.[2] Known virophages include

References

  1. ↑ Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Fischer MG (2016). "A classification system for virophages and satellite viruses". Arch Virol. 161: 233–247. PMID 26446887. doi:10.1007/s00705-015-2622-9.
  2. ↑ Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Fischer MG (2016), "A classification system for virophages and satellite viruses" (PDF), Archives of Virology, 161: 233–47, PMID 26446887, doi:10.1007/s00705-015-2622-9


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