Hot crenarchaeal viruses reveal deep evolutionary connections.
The discovery of archaeal viruses provides insights into the fundamental biochemistry and evolution of the Archaea. Recent studies have identified a wide diversity of archaeal viruses within the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park and other high-temperature environments worldwide. These viruses are often morphologically unique and code for genes with little similarity to other known genes in the biosphere, a characteristic that has complicated efforts to trace their evolutionary history. Comparative genomics combined with structural analysis indicate that spindle-shaped virus lineages might be unique to the Archaea, whereas other icosahedral viruses might share a common lineage with viruses of Bacteria and Eukarya. These studies provide insights into the evolutionary history of viruses in all three domains of life.
Ortmann
Alice C
AC
Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA.
Wiedenheft
Blake
B
Douglas
Trevor
T
Young
Mark
M
D023641:Archaeal Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019615:Crenarchaeota / Q000821:virology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D045482:Hot Springs; D014779:Virus Replication