'Virus-eater' discovered in Antarctic lake

Nature News ^ | 28 March 2011 | Virginia Gewin

[neverdem]

First of the parasitic parasites to be discovered in a natural environment points to hidden diversity.

A genomic survey of the microbial life in an Antarctic lake has revealed a new virophage — a virus that attacks viruses. The discovery suggests that these life forms are more common, and have a larger role in the environment, than was once thought.

An Australian research team found the virophage while surveying the extremely salty Organic Lake in eastern Antarctica. While sequencing the collective genome of microbes living in the surface waters, they discovered the virus, which they dubbed the Organic Lake Virophage (OLV).

The OLV genome was identified nestling within the sequences of phycodnaviruses — a group of giant viruses that attack algae. Evidence of gene exchange, and possible co-evolution, between the two suggests that OLV preys on the phycodnavirus. Although OLV is the dominant virophage in the lake, the work suggests others might be present.

By killing phycodnaviruses, the OLV might allow algae to thrive. Ricardo Cavicchioli, a microbiologist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and his colleagues found that mathematical models of the Organic Lake system that took account of the virophage's toll on its host showed lower algal mortality and more blooms during the lake's two ice-free summer months.

"Our work reveals not only an amazing diversity in microbial life in this lake, but also how little we understand about the complexity of the biological functions at work," says Cavicchioli. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science1...

[SunkenCiv]

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[Dryman]

Straight B and very funny in an elitist sort of way.

[Quix]

I wonder if it’s

BIG ENOUGH

to tackle the viruses in D.C.?

[wildbill]

Save me a glop to insert into my computer.

[odds]

First of the parasitic parasites to be discovered in a natural environment points to hidden diversity. A genomic survey of the microbial life in an Antarctic lake has revealed a new virophage — a virus that attacks viruses. The discovery suggests that these life forms are more common, and have a larger role in the environment, than was once thought.

A common, generic definition of a Parasite: An animal or plant that lives on or in another animal or plant of a different type and feeds from it. So, a new "virophage" that is "a virus that attacks viruses" or rather "eats" (phage) another to impair the replication of other (a life form). Interesting.. I should think the concept at least is not new. Part of evolution.

Is that what's about to happen in Libya, etc.. or will it be confined to an Antarctic lake?

[econ cents]

True. The eastern block countries have been using bacteriophages for a long time. The west stopped this line of research when anti biotics were able to be mass produced.

But as antibiotic resistant bacteria are now becoming more prevalent, phages should make a come back but the FDA is standing in the way.

[ApplegateRanch]

“So nat’ralists observe, a flea
Hath smaller fleas that on him prey,
And these have smaller fleas that bite ‘em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.”
J. Swift

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

It’s a virusitic virus!

[SunkenCiv]

Extinct humans left louse legacy(Homo Erectus and Homo Sapiens)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1246930/posts

Lice hang ancient date on first clothes:
Genetic analysis puts origin at 190,000 years ago
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2498946/posts

an interesting comment here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2226603/posts?page=41#41

[sidebar] Huge New Virus Defies Classification
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1536753/posts

[ElkGroveDan]

What else do you call a parasite that goes after parasites?

A parasite.

What do you call a builder who builds homes for builders? A builder. Or a cook who prepares food for cooks? He's still a cook.

[MacMattico]

;)

[odds]

That is an interesting comment. I agree with immune disorder & resistance to antibiotics because of “overuse”. Hadn’t heard of hedgehog men of Suffolk! Thanks for the links.