Mavirus virophage
| Mavirus virophage | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group I (dsDNA) |
| Species | |
|
Mavirus virophage | |
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.
References
- ↑ Fischer MG, Suttle CA (April 2011). "A virophage at the origin of large DNA transposons". Science. 332 (6026): 231–4. PMID 21385722. doi:10.1126/science.1199412.
- ↑ Fischer MG, Hackl (December 2016). "Host genome integration and giant virus-induced reactivation of the virophage mavirus". Nature. 540: 288–91. PMID 27929021. doi:10.1038/nature20593.