Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
06:02
Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Fossil rhabdoviral sequences integrated into arthropod genomes: ontogeny, evolution, and potential functionality
Philippe Fort1, Aurélie Albertini, Aurélie Van-Hua
1Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, UMR 5237, CNRS, Universités Montpellier 2 et 1, Montpellier, France. philippe.fort@crbm.cnrs.fr
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|September 16, 2011
Summary
Integrated rhabdovirus sequences (IREs) are found in arthropod genomes, particularly mosquitoes and ticks. These viral fossils reveal past Rhabdovirus diversity and suggest active roles in host evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Virology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Retroelements are significant genomic components driving adaptive evolution.
- Mononegaviruses, despite lacking DNA intermediates, can integrate gene fragments into host genomes.
- Previous studies documented integrations for Bornaviridae and Filoviridae in vertebrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the integration of Rhabdoviridae sequences into host genomes.
- To identify and characterize integrated rhabdoviral elements (IREs) in arthropods.
- To explore the evolutionary implications of these integrated viral sequences.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide identification of integrated rhabdoviral elements (IREs).
- Phylogenetic analysis of IREs to determine integration events and viral diversity.
- Selection pressure analysis on orthologous IREs in field-collected mosquitoes.
Main Results:
- 185 IREs were identified, primarily in Aedes aegypti and Ixodes scapularis genomes.
- Phylogenetic analyses indicated multiple independent integration events in A. aegypti.
- An integrated polymerase IRE fragment showed evidence of purifying selection, suggesting a functional role.
Conclusions:
- Arthropod genomes, especially mosquitoes, harbor numerous integrated rhabdoviral sequences.
- IREs serve as valuable molecular fossils for reconstructing extinct Rhabdovirus diversity.
- Integrated rhabdoviral sequences may actively contribute to host genome evolution and biology.
Related Concept Videos
02:33Retroviruses
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
01:29Viruses of Archaea
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
01:08Evolution of Microbial Genome
Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.