First evidence of host range expansion in virophages and its potential impact on giant viruses and host cells

Said Mougari; Nisrine Chelkha; Dehia Sahmi-Bounsiar; Fabrizio Di Pinto; Philippe Colson; Jonatas Abrahao; Bernard La Scola

Tupanvirus is one of the most complex viruses isolated to date 22 . In addition to the distinct genetic and structural characteristics of this virus, it exhibits a remarkable biological feature never previously observed in other giant viruses. Tupanvirus is able to trigger a cytotoxic profile associated with a shutdown of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in host and nonhost organisms 20 . This profile seems to be independent of virus replication and probably allows the virus to modulate nonhost predator organisms to increase viral survival chances in nature. In host organisms, such as A. castellanii, this phenomenon is mainly observed at high MOIs (MOI= 100) 20 . In this study, we investigated how this cytotoxicity could modulate virophage parasitism and notably infection by the mutant genotype of Guarani. To the best of our author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.