Scientists in the US have made a shocking discovery, observing viruses attaching to each other for the first time. The study, published in the journal of the International Society of Microbial Ecology, found that two ‘Bacteriophage’ viruses used each other to aid in replication. Lead author Tagide deCarvalho stated, “No one has ever seen a bacteriophage – or any other virus – attach to another virus.” This revelation suggests that there may be many more instances of this kind of relationship yet to be uncovered.
The research focused on environmental samples containing a group of bacteriophage satellites that infect Streptomyces bacteria. By analyzing the genomes of these viruses and their bacterial hosts, the scientists discovered that the satellites possessed genes coding for their outer protein shell but lacked the essential genes necessary for replication within bacterial cells.
The study explains that when a satellite virus infiltrates a cell, it relies on helper viruses to replicate its DNA. In some cases, the satellite and helper viruses need to infect the same cell simultaneously, requiring them to be in close proximity. However, the new research reveals that satellites actually attach themselves to the helper virus, specifically to its “neck.”
The reason behind this attachment is that certain satellites lack a gene needed to integrate into the genome of bacterial host cells after entering them. The authors of the study stated, “These findings demonstrate an ever-increasing array of satellite strategies for genetic dependence on their helpers in the evolutionary arms race between satellite and helper phages.”
Furthermore, this discovery raises the possibility that many bacteriophages previously considered contaminated may actually be satellite-helper systems. DeCarvalho added, “So now, with this paper, people might be able to recognize more of these systems.”
This groundbreaking research sheds light on the complex relationships between viruses, highlighting the diverse strategies they employ for survival and replication. As scientists continue to explore the world of viruses, it is likely that more astonishing discoveries like this will emerge.
