2023-11-08 02:48:28
Researchers at the University of Maryland have made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of virology. For the first time ever, a research team has observed how two different viruses attach to each other and combine. This new evidence sheds light on a previously unknown form of contact between viruses and could have significant implications for our understanding of viral interactions.
The team, led by Tagide deCarvalho, used a transmission electron microscope to observe samples of bacteriophages that infect bacteria of the genus Streptomyces. What they found was truly unprecedented – detailed images of satellite helper contacts, where satellite viruses attached their “tail” to the “neck” of a helper virus.
According to senior author Ivan Erill, this discovery is significant because it provides the first evidence of this type of relationship between viruses. The researchers also found that the satellite viruses were never directly bound to their bacterial host cell in the images, but only indirectly via the helper virus.
The purpose of this coupling of viruses was also a focus of the study. The scientists found that the satellite viruses, dubbed “MiniFlayers,” lack the integration gene to insert their genetic material into that of the host. This means that they are absolutely dependent on the simultaneous presence of the helper viruses in the host – without its genetic help, they cannot infiltrate the host genome.
The researchers also used bioinformatics methods to investigate the evolutionary development of these viruses. The analyzes revealed that the MiniFlayer satellite viruses and their helper viruses have evolved together for a long time, suggesting that there may be many more cases of this type of relationship between viruses.
This groundbreaking discovery opens up new avenues for research in virology and could potentially lead to a better understanding of viral co-infection and the mechanisms by which viruses interact with each other. The implications of this discovery are far-reaching and could have a significant impact on our understanding of virus-host interactions.]
#Connection #viruses #observed #time #cooperation #mechanism #viruses #discovered