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Virophage
Virophages are small, double-stranded DNA viral phages that require the co-infection of another virus. The co-infecting viruses are typically giant viruses. Virophages rely on the viral replication factory of the co-infecting giant virus for their own replication. One of the characteristics of virophages is that they have a parasitic relationship with the co-infecting virus. Their dependence upon the giant virus for replication often results in the deactivation of the giant viruses. The virophage may improve the recovery and survival of the host organism. Unlike satellite viruses, virophages have a parasitic effect on their co-infecting virus. Virophages have been observed to render a giant virus inactive and thereby improve the condition of the host organism. All known virophages are grouped into the family ''Lavidaviridae'' (from "large virus dependent or associated" + -viridae). Discovery The first virophage was discovered in a cooling tower in Paris, France in 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zamilon Virophage
''Mimivirus-dependent virus Zamilon'', or Zamilon, is a virophage, a group of small DNA viruses that infect protists and require a helper virus to replicate; they are a type of satellite virus. Discovered in 2013 in Tunisia, infecting '' Acanthamoeba polyphaga'' amoebae, Zamilon most closely resembles Sputnik, the first virophage to be discovered. The name is Arabic for "the neighbour". Its spherical particle is 50–60 nm in diameter, and contains a circular double-stranded DNA genome of around 17 kb, which is predicted to encode 20 polypeptides. A related strain, Zamilon 2, has been identified in North America. All known virophages are associated with helpers in the giant DNA virus family ''Mimiviridae''. Zamilon is restricted in its range of helper viruses; it can be supported by viruses from ''Mimivirus''-like ''Mimiviridae'' lineages B and C, but not from lineage A. This appears to be a consequence of a rudimentary immune system of the helper virus, termed MIMIVIR ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
