Giant virus vs amoeba: fight for supremacy

Abstract

Since the discovery of mimivirus, numerous giant viruses associated with free-living amoebae have been described. The genome of giant viruses can be more than 2.5 megabases, and virus particles can exceed the size of many bacteria. The unexpected characteristics of these viruses have made them intriguing research targets and, as a result, studies focusing on their interactions with their amoeba host have gained increased attention. Studies have shown that giant viruses can establish host–pathogen interactions, which have not been previously demonstrated, including the unprecedented interaction with a new group of small viruses, called virophages, that parasitize their viral factories. In this brief review, we present recent advances in virophage–giant virus–host interactions and highlight selected studies involving interactions between giant viruses and amoebae. These unprecedented interactions involve the giant viruses mimivirus, marseillevirus, tupanviruses and faustovirus, all of which modulate the amoeba environment, affecting both their replication and their spread to new hosts.

Vírus Gigantes - Faustovírus: Revisão Bibliografica

“…O grupo de pesquisa de Oliveira dedicou-se à discussão sobre interações vírus gigantes-hospedeiro destacando os estudos envolvendo interações entre vírus gigantes e amebas. Estudaram alguns vírus gigantes como mimivírus, vírus de Marselha, tupanvírus e também o faustovírus, todos modelando o ambiente da ameba, afetando tanto a replicação quanto a propagação para novos hospedeiros 28 .…”

A Brief History of Giant Viruses’ Studies in Brazilian Biomes

“…Besides, aside from the already mentioned unique structural tail, and the formation of bunches [78], tupanviruses exhibited for the first time a cytotoxic phenotype to non-host cells [10]. These intriguing aspects metaphorically resemble a constant fight for supremacy [80] and help unravel the evolutionary history of GVs.…”

Dendrimers and Dendritic Materials: From Laboratory to Medical Practice in Infectious Diseases

“…Amoebae are eukaryotic protozoa extensively distributed in nature and human habitats, often acting as a host and reservoir of other microorganisms like giant viruses and some class of bacteria [ 158 , 159 ]. Amoebae infecting humans are classified as parasitic, such as Entamoeba organisms, or opportunistic free-living amoebae, such as Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris , Sappinia diploidea , and Naegleria fowleri (known as the brain-eating amoebae) [ 160 ].…”