A novel evolutionary strategy revealed in the phaeoviruses.
Phaeoviruses infect the brown algae, which are major contributors to primary production of coastal waters and estuaries. They exploit a Persistent evolutionary strategy akin to a K- selected life strategy via genome integration and are the only known representatives to do so within the giant algal viruses that are typified by r- selected Acute lytic viruses. In screening the genomes of five species within the filamentous brown algal lineage, here we show an unprecedented diversity of viral gene sequence variants especially amongst the smaller phaeoviral genomes. Moreover, one variant shares features from both the two major sub-groups within the phaeoviruses. These phaeoviruses have exploited the reduction of their giant dsDNA genomes and accompanying loss of DNA proofreading capability, typical of an Acute life strategist, but uniquely retain a Persistent life strategy.
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Kim
K
Stevens
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Karen
K
Weynberg
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Christopher
C
Bellas
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Sonja
S
Brown
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom ; School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Colin
C
Brownlee
School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Murray T
MT
Brown
Cell and Molecular Department, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Declan C
DC
Schroeder
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017862:Phycodnaviridae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase