Single-cell-resolved natural giant virus infections reveal conserved protist immunity
Single-cell eukaryotes (protists) are key players in microbial ecosystems. Yet, our understanding of how they interact with viruses in nature and how antiviral defenses shape these relationships remains limited. Using a single-cell multi-omics approach, we mapped associations between giant viruses and their hosts and identified active giant-virus infections in an alpine lake protist community. In…
Single-cell investigations of natural giant virus infections have uncovered conserved protist immunity, shedding light on the intricate interactions between these microscopic entities. Eukaryotes, specifically protists, are crucial components of microbial ecosystems, but the dynamics of their encounters with viruses and the antiviral mechanisms they employ have remained largely unexplored.
By employing a cutting-edge single-cell multi-omics approach, researchers have mapped the relationships between giant viruses and their hosts, revealing active infections within a community of protists in an alpine lake. Among the findings, dinoflagellates, a type of protist, were observed to mount a selective response through the induction of viperin, an ancient antiviral enzyme that has remained conserved across various life forms, from bacteria to humans.
Furthermore, the study revealed virus-encoded genes that bear resemblance to immunity-related genes, suggesting a potential role in countering viral attacks. These discoveries not only highlight the ecological aspect of protist immunity but also offer a framework for understanding the ongoing host-virus arms race across diverse cellular lineages.
Written by urgent.news from bioRxiv's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
