https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2018.04.001 SUMMARY: Mimiviruses are giant viruses that co-evolved with eukaryotic hosts and virophages. Virophages are tiny viruses that hijack the viral factories giant viruses set up inside the host. Just as the eukaryotic host and virophages have evolved a sort of symbiotic relationship to defend against giant virus attacks, giant viruses have also evolved a… Continue reading Cas4-like Protein in Giant Viruses
Tag: amoeba
Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00527 SUMMARY: In 2003, scientists discovered that giant viruses infected amoebas. These giant viruses are so big that they were mistaken for bacteria for the longest time. It wasn’t until scientists realized they contained no ribosomal DNA that these organisms were reclassified as viruses. From there, even more giant viruses were discovered. Some of the… Continue reading Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages
Genetic diversity of Entamoeba in cockroaches
Genetic diversity of Entamoeba: Novel ribosomal lineages from cockroaches SUMMARY: Researchers in this study looked at the diversity of Entamoeba in 3 different species of cockroaches (the American roach, the Dubia roach, and the Madagascar hissing roach) by looking at SSU rDNA in the ground up intestines of the cockroaches. They found that the Entamoebas… Continue reading Genetic diversity of Entamoeba in cockroaches