title: Virology: independent virus development outside a host.
abstract: Viruses are thought to be functionally inactive once they are outside and independent of their host cell. Here we describe an exceptional property of a newly discovered virus that infects a hyperthermophilic archaeon growing in acidic hot springs: the lemon-shaped viral particle develops a very long tail at each of its pointed ends after being released from its host cell. The process occurs only at the temperature of the host's habitat (75-90 degrees C) and it does not require the presence of the host cell, an exogenous energy source or any cofactors. This host-independent morphological development may be a strategy for viral survival in an environment that is unusually harsh and has limited host availability.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology of the Gene in Extremophiles Unit, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Häring
authors.forename: Gisle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rachel
authors.forename: Lanming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prangishvili
mesh_terms: D041541:Acidianus / Q000821:virology*; D023641:Archaeal Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000821:virology; D007558:Italy; D019065:Virus Assembly