Dataset Information

Trapping the Enemy: Vermamoeba vermiformis Circumvents Faustovirus Mariensis Dissemination by Enclosing Viral Progeny inside Cysts.

ABSTRACT: Viruses depend on cells to replicate and can cause considerable damage to their hosts. However, hosts have developed a plethora of antiviral mechanisms to counterattack or prevent viral replication and to maintain homeostasis. Advantageous features are constantly being selected, affecting host-virus interactions and constituting a harsh race for supremacy in nature. Here, we describe a new antiviral mechanism unveiled by the interaction between a giant virus and its amoebal host. Faustovirus mariensis infects Vermamoeba vermiformis, a free-living amoeba, and induces cell lysis to disseminate into the environment. Once infected, the cells release a soluble factor that triggers the encystment of neighbor cells, preventing their infection. Remarkably, infected cells stimulated by the factor encyst and trap the viruses and viral factories inside cyst walls, which are no longer viable and cannot excyst. This unprecedented mechanism illustrates that a plethora of antiviral strategies remains to be discovered in nature.IMPORTANCE Understanding how viruses of microbes interact with its hosts is not only important from a basic scientific point of view but also for a better comprehension of the evolution of life. Studies involving large and giant viruses have revealed original and outstanding mechanisms concerning virus-host relationships. Here, we report a mechanism developed by Vermamoeba vermiformis, a free-living amoeba, to reduce Faustovirus mariensis dissemination. Once infected, V. vermiformis cells release a factor that induces the encystment of neighbor cells, preventing infection of further cells and/or trapping the viruses and viral factories inside the cyst walls. This phenomenon reinforces the need for more studies regarding large/giant viruses and their hosts.

SUBMITTER: Borges I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6600206 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:The water systems inside a dental unit are known to be contaminated with a multi-kingdom biofilm encompassing bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. Aerosolization of these micro-organisms can potentially create a health hazard for both dental staff and the patient. Very little is known on the efficacy of dental unit disinfection products against amoeba. In this study we have examined the effect of four different treatment regimens, with the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) containing product Oxygenal, on an in-vitro multi-kingdom dental unit water system (DUWS) biofilm. The treatment efficacy was assessed in time using heterotrophic plate counts, the bacterial 16S rDNA, fungal 18S rDNA gene load and the number of genomic units for Legionella spp. the amoeba Vermamoeba vermiformis. The results indicated that a daily treatment of the DUWS with a low dose H2O2 (0.02% for 5 h), combined with a weekly shock dose (0.25% H2O2, 30 min) is necessary to reduce the heterotrophic plate count of a severely contaminated DUWS (>106 CFU.mL−1) to below 100 CFU.mL−1. A daily treatment with a low dose hydrogen peroxide alone, is sufficient for the statistically significant reduction of the total amount of bacterial 16S rDNA gene, Legionella spp. and Vermamoeba vermiformis load (p < 0.005). Also shown is that even though hydrogen peroxide does not kill the trophozoite nor the cysts of V. vermiformis, it does however result in the detachment of the trophozoite form of this amoeba from the DUWS biofilm and hereby ultimately removing the amoeba from the system. Highlights • Daily use of 0.02% H2O2, combined with a weekly shock dose (0.25%) H2O2 is needed to reduce the HPC < 100 CFU.ml-1.• Daily use of 0.02% H2O2 significantly reduces the bacterial 16S rDNA and Legionella spp. load of a contaminated DUWS.• Daily use of 0.02% H2O2 significantly reduces the Vermamoeba vermiformis load of a contaminated DUWS.• Hydrogen peroxide does not kill V. vermiformis, but does remove the trophozoite from the DUWS biofilm.

Dataset Information

Trapping the Enemy: Vermamoeba vermiformis Circumvents Faustovirus Mariensis Dissemination by Enclosing Viral Progeny inside Cysts.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets