Article
Microbiology
Sho Fukaya, Masaharu Takemura
Summary: The study identified quantitative differences in the process of cytopathic effects caused by four giant viruses in Acanthamoeba castellanii through image analysis of phase-contrast time-lapse movies. The results revealed diverse infection strategies of each giant virus, with medusavirus and Pandoravirus japonicus infection leading to the formation of elongated particles related to intercellular bridges, while Mimivirus shirakomae infection initially did not cause any changes in the host cells, potentially enabling active movement and spread over a wider area.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Hiroyuki Hikida, Yusuke Okazaki, Ruixuan Zhang, Thi Tuyen Nguyen, Hiroyuki Ogata
Summary: By re-sequencing a prototype marseillevirus, we evaluated the accuracy of MinION-only genome assemblies for giant viruses. The results showed that MinION provides highly accurate genome assemblies for giant viruses. We also discovered several new species of marseillevirus, pithovirus, and mimivirus using MinION sequencing.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Eleni Kalafagi, Eleni Papanikolaou, Evangelos Marinos, Nicholas P. Anagnou, Kalliopi I. Pappa
Summary: The Mimivirus is a giant virus that infects amoebae and has distinctive characteristics, such as large viral particles and replication process without entering the nucleus. Although their existence is undeniable, there is still uncertainty concerning their pathogenicity mechanisms in humans and the nature of their immune network.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Juliana dos Santos Oliveira, Anastasiya A. Lavell, Victor Alejandro Essus, Getulio Souza, Gabriel Henrique Pereira Nunes, Eduarda Benicio, Allan Jefferson Guimaraes, Kristin N. Parent, Juliana R. Cortines
Summary: Giant viruses, such as the Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus discovered in 2003, have unique characteristics that challenge traditional standards of viruses. The diverse giant virus families found through worldwide studies may encode a large number of viral proteins and have potentially exerted significant evolutionary influence in their environment.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nisha Goyal, Amlan Barai, Shamik Sen, Kiran Kondabagil
Summary: Mimivirus and Marseillevirus can both induce reorganization of the host cytoskeletal network in Acanthamoeba castellanii. Mimivirus infection leads to tubulin cleavage, which is a previously unreported phenomena, while Marseillevirus infection induces cytopathic effects through the viral genome and proteins packaged in the capsid.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paul B. Talbert, Steven Henikoff, Karim -Jean Armache
Summary: Giant viruses demonstrate variations in morphogenesis and genome compaction, with some mechanisms known and others still unknown.
TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Morgan Gaia, Lingjie Meng, Eric Pelletier, Patrick Forterre, Chiara Vanni, Antonio Fernandez-Guerra, Olivier Jaillon, Patrick Wincker, Hiroyuki Ogata, Mart Krupovic, Tom O. Delmont
Summary: DNA viruses have a significant impact on the ecology and evolution of cellular organisms, but their overall diversity and evolutionary paths are still unclear. This study discovered plankton-infecting relatives of herpesviruses in the sunlit oceans, which belong to a new phylum named Mirusviricota. These mirusviruses exhibit chimaeric attributes connecting them to both herpesviruses and giant eukaryotic viruses, and they play a lasting role in the ecology of marine ecosystems and the evolution of eukaryotic DNA viruses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Violette Da Cunha, Morgan Gaia, Hiroyuki Ogata, Olivier Jaillon, Tom O. Delmont, Patrick Forterre
Summary: This study reveals the presence and expression of actin-related genes in viral genomes, suggesting that viruses recruited these genes from ancient protoeukaryotic hosts and transferred them to give rise to eukaryotic actins, which could have contributed to the emergence of the modern eukaryotic cytoskeleton.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick Arthofer, Vincent Delafont, Anouk Willemsen, Florian Panhoelzl, Matthias Horn
Summary: Protists play important roles in regulating microbial communities and food webs. Their activity is influenced by intracellular parasites, including bacterial symbionts and viruses. This study investigates the interaction between bacterial symbionts and nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses in free-living amoebae. The findings show that the bacterial symbiont represses viral replication and protects the amoeba host. This study highlights the importance of virus-symbiont interactions in microbial population dynamics and ecosystem processes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Shoko Hososhima, Ritsu Mizutori, Rei Abe-Yoshizumi, Andrey Rozenberg, Shunta Shigemura, Alina Pushkarev, Masae Konno, Kota Katayama, Keiichi Inoue, Satoshi P. Tsunoda, Oded Beja, Hideki Kandori
Summary: Rhodopsins, including the newly discovered Heliorhodopsins (HeRs), are proteins that convert light into signals and energy. A viral HeR, V2HeR3, was found to be a light-activated proton transporter with potential applications in optogenetics. The function of HeRs in different organisms and viruses remains diverse and not fully understood.
Article
Virology
Bruna Luiza de Azevedo, Joao Pessoa Araujo Junior, Leila Sabrina Ullmann, Rodrigo Araujo Lima Rodrigues, Jonatas Santos Abrahao
Summary: This study describes the isolation and genomic characterization of a mimivirus/virophage/transpoviron tripartite system from Brazil. The results suggest that this triple genomic and biological interaction may be ancient and well-conserved. The findings expand our basic knowledge about unique and little-known elements and lay the foundation for future studies.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Immacolata Speciale, Anna Notaro, Chantal Abergel, Rosa Lanzetta, Todd L. Lowary, Antonio Molinaro, Michela Tonetti, James L. Van Etten, Cristina De Castro
Summary: Viruses are a diverse group of entities that require a suitable host for replication. Recently discovered large and giant viruses have their own glycosylation pathway, different from the traditional paradigm where viral glycans mimic those of the host. This review focuses on large and giant viruses that produce carbohydrate-processing enzymes and discusses achievements in elucidating glycan structures, manipulating sugars, and organic synthesis of virus-encoded glycans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lingjie Meng, Tom O. Delmont, Morgan Gaia, Eric Pelletier, Antonio Fernandez-Guerra, Samuel Chaffron, Russell Y. Neches, Junyi Wu, Hiroto Kaneko, Hisashi Endo, Hiroyuki Ogata
Summary: The adaptation of viruses in polar oceans to the extremely cold environment is still largely unknown. This study utilizes the Global Ocean Eukaryotic Viral database to investigate the biogeography and functional repertoire of viruses in polar and nonpolar regions. The results indicate the existence of an ecological barrier separating polar and nonpolar viral communities, with temperature driving significant changes in the virus-host network at the boundary.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Virology
Sihem Hannat, Bernard La Scola, Julien Andreani, Sarah Aherfi
Summary: Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus, the first giant virus isolated from amoeba, was discovered in 2003, opening up a new field of virology. Since then, many other giant viruses have been found, forming new families and taxonomical groups. This study aims to summarize the main features of this group of giant viruses.
Review
Microbiology
Khalil Geballa-Koukoulas, Bernard La Scola, Guillaume Blanc, Julien Andreani
Summary: The discovery of Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus in 2003 led to a paradigm shift in virology. Twelve years later, novel giant viruses were discovered using another amoeba host, Vermamoeba vermiformis. Studying the impact of these viruses on the host's cell cycle can provide insights into virus evolution and the origins of eukaryotes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thiago M. Santos, Ayrton B. P. Lisboa, Wenderson Rodrigues, Helena Gomes, Jonatas Abrahao, Luiz-Eduardo Del-Bem
Summary: This study investigated the impact of ACE2 protein variations on SARS-CoV-2 Variants Of Concern (VOCs) through molecular simulations. The results showed that VOCs bind more efficiently to human ACE2, and ACE2 protein variations can weaken the interaction and protein stability with SARS-CoV-2.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Adriana Giongo, Luiz Gustavo dos Anjos Borges, Taiz L. Lopes Simao, Eduardo Eizirik, Laura R. P. Utz
Summary: In this study, the structure and dynamics of periphyton communities in freshwater systems were investigated using eDNA metabarcoding and morphology-based approaches. The results showed that biofilms played a crucial role in nutrient recycling, and peritrich ciliates were the most dominant group, exhibiting clear successional patterns at both sites. Furthermore, the turnover dynamics of the communities differed between the two sites, despite their adjacency and similar abiotic properties.
Article
Microbiology
Senlie Octaviana, Gian Primahana, Tjandrawati Mozef, Luiz G. A. Borges, Dietmar H. Pieper, Joachim Wink
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the myxobacterial community composition and isolate myxobacteria in Indonesian mangroves. It was found that there were 25 cultivable myxobacteria in six genera, and 13 crude extracts showed moderate activities against human pathogenic microorganisms. This study highlights the importance of mangrove habitats as a source of myxobacteria and novel antimicrobial compounds.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Amanda Stephanie Arantes Witt, Giliane de Souza Trindade, Fernanda Gil de Souza, Mateus Sa Magalhaes Serafim, Alana Vitor Barbosa da Costa, Marcos Vinicius Ferreira Silva, Felipe Campos de Melo Iani, Rodrigo Araujo Lima Rodrigues, Erna Geessien Kroon, Jonatas Santos Abrahao
Summary: In May 2022, the first worldwide outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) was reported, showing different clinical aspects compared to previous human monkeypox infections. This study used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to evaluate the ultrastructural features of MPXV infection in Vero cells. The results revealed various aspects of the MPXV cycle, including the entry of intracellular mature virus particles, reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum, and distinct regions in the viral factory. The findings also showed viral crescents, different MPXV particle morphotypes, and cellular alterations induced by infection.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Karine Beatriz Costa, Bruna Caroline Chaves Garcia, Marina Luiza Baeta Costa, Yara Gomes Pena, Eduardo Augusto Barbosa Figueiredo, Marcelo Henrique Fernandes Ottoni, Juliane Duarte Santos, Vinicius de Oliveira Ottone, Danilo Bretas de Oliveira, Etel Rocha-Vieira
Summary: This study investigated the association between obesity and recent, inapparent dengue. The results showed an association between recent inapparent dengue and obesity, as well as the involvement of a specific type of monocytes in this association.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Luiz Gustavo dos Anjos Borges, Jana Pastuschek, Yvonne Heimann, Kristin Dawczynski, Ekkehard Schleussner, Dietmar H. Pieper, Janine Zollkau
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the vaginal microbial composition of PPROM patients and its development under standard antibiotic therapy, as well as to assess the usefulness of vaginal microbiota for the prediction of EONS. The study also examines the neonatal microbiota at birth as a possible reflection of in utero microbiota. The findings suggest that analyzing vaginal and neonatal microbiota through 16S rRNA gene sequencing can be a basis for individualized risk assessment for consecutive EONS.
Article
Microbiology
Steffen Helbich, Israel Barrantes, Luiz Gustavo dos Anjos Borges, Dietmar H. Pieper, Yevhen Vainshtein, Kai Sohn, Karl-Heinrich Engesser
Summary: Two bacterial strains, Mycolicibacterium gadium IBE100 and Mycobacterium paragordonae IBE200, were found to utilize 2-methylpropene as the sole carbon and energy source. The degradation pathway of 2-methylpropene was proposed based on whole genome sequencing, differential expression analysis, and peptide-mass fingerprinting. Key genes involved in the degradation were identified, providing information for the identification of potential degraders.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Iago J. S. Domingos, Kamila L. S. Rocha, Jessica M. Graciano, Lara R. Almeida, Jeffrey B. Doty, Adriano P. Paglia, Danilo B. Oliveira, Yoshinori J. Nakazawa, Giliane de S. Trindade
Summary: A study in Brazil found the presence of viral DNA and anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies in small mammals in a VACV-endemic area, even in the absence of current outbreaks. These findings highlight the role of small mammals in the natural cycle of VACV and emphasize the need for further ecological studies to understand how this virus is maintained in nature and to prevent BV outbreaks.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Efstratios D. Sitsanidis, Lara A. L. Dutra, Johanna Schirmer, Romain Chevigny, Manu Lahtinen, Andreas Johansson, Carmen C. Piras, David K. Smith, Marja Tiirola, Mika Pettersson, Maija Nissinen
Summary: In this study, the Fmoc-F/GO hybrid hydrogel was formed by combining Fmoc-F amino acid with graphene oxide (GO) flakes for the first time. GO flakes did not affect Fmoc-F self-assembly but modulated the gel's elasticity and accelerated its formation. The hybrid hydrogel exhibited significant bactericidal activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), but intermittent bacterial recovery due to the inoculum effect was observed.
Article
Geography
Romullo Oliveira Louzada, Fabio de Oliveira Roque, Juliana Maria Ferreira de Souza Diniz, Ivan Bergier
Summary: This study explores the evolution of the largest crevasse in the Taquari River megafan in the Pantanal, Brazil. The results suggest that the rechanneling of the river may be completed by 2080, leading to a gradual transition of aquatic areas to terrestrial state.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Jorge Augusto Hongo, Giovanni Marques de Castro, Alison Pelri Albuquerque Menezes, Agnello Cesar Rios Picorelli, Thieres Tayroni Martins da Silva, Eddie Luidy Imada, Luigi Marchionni, Luiz-Eduardo Del-Bem, Anderson Vieira Chaves, Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida, Felipe Campelo, Francisco Pereira Lobo
Summary: This article introduces a phylogeny-aware comparative genomics tool called CALANGO, which is used to find homologous regions and biological roles associated with quantitative phenotypes across species. Through two case studies, CALANGO has identified both known and previously unidentified genotype-phenotype associations, providing new directions for research in ecology and agriculture.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Romullo O. Louzada, Leticia K. Reis, Juliana M. F. de S. Diniz, Fabio de O. Roque, Fabio F. Gama, Ivan Bergier
Summary: The accurate assessment of gully is crucial for preventing soil loss, especially in agricultural landscapes. This study combines freely distributed remote sensing data to evaluate gullies in a tropical watershed with a history of cattle production. With the use of various variables from SAR and optical datasets, a Random Forest classifier was employed, achieving an overall accuracy of 89%. The method proved effective, low cost, and replicable, particularly in river basins with gullies in the tropics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephano M. Iglesias, Ravi K. Lokareddy, Ruoyu Yang, Fenglin Li, Daniel P. Yeggoni, Chun-Feng David Hou, Makayla N. Leroux, Juliana R. Cortines, Justin C. Leavitt, Mary Bird, Sherwood R. Casjens, Simon White, Carolyn M. Teschke, Gino Cingolani
Summary: This study describes the complete architecture and organization of the P22 bacteriophage tail apparatus and ejection proteins using cryo-EM, genetic knockouts, and biochemical analysis. The findings provide insights into the assembly mechanism and signal transduction pathway of P22.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Isabella Luiza Martins de Aquino, Matheus Gomes Barcelos, Talita Bastos Machado, Mateus Sa Magalhaes Serafim, Jonatas Santos Abrahao
Summary: The capsid plays a central role in the life cycle of viruses, protecting the viral genome and facilitating host cell interaction and infection. Giant viruses that infect protists have attracted attention for their bacterial-like dimensions and unique features, such as surface fibrils. This mini review compiles important information on the surface fibrils of nucleocytoviruses, including their functions, composition, length, organization, and origins.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Guillaume Castel, Hussein Alburkat, Caroline Tatard, Lara Dutra, Mathilde Criado, Marie Bouilloud, Tarja Sironen, Julien Pradel, Nathalie Charbonnel
Summary: This study investigated the circulation of PUUV in its animal reservoir during a large outbreak of NE in the southern Jura Mountains in France. The results showed a higher abundance of bank voles in 2021 compared to previous years and a high seroprevalence of PUUV in the captured animals during the human NE epidemic. Genetic analysis revealed clustering of PUUV strains without significant genetic variation.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOW
(2023)