Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

7.1K

Interaction of Paramecium caudatum and Picornaviruses

Z A Karalyan1, H E Voskanyan, N V Ramazyan

  • 1Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology NSA RA, Yerevan, Armenia.

Indian Journal of Virology : an Official Organ of Indian Virological Society
|December 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Paramecium caudatum significantly increased when exposed to picornaviruses like poliovirus. These ciliates effectively eliminated infectious picornaviruses from water, offering disease prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Picornaviruses, including poliovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, and encephalomyocarditis virus, are significant human and animal pathogens.
  • The interaction between viruses and protozoa, specifically ciliates like Paramecium caudatum, is not well understood.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing viral reservoirs in aquatic environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between picornaviruses and Paramecium caudatum.
  • To determine the effect of picornaviruses on Paramecium populations.
  • To assess the potential of Paramecium caudatum in picornavirus elimination.

Main Methods:

  • Coincubation of Paramecium caudatum with live and inactivated picornaviruses (poliovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, encephalomyocarditis virus).
  • Monitoring of Paramecium population growth over 2-9 days.
  • Quantification of viral titers in the medium throughout the incubation period.
  • Observation of virus liberation from destroyed Paramecium.

Main Results:

  • Paramecium populations showed a sharp increase within 2-5 days of coincubation with live picornaviruses.
  • Viral titers significantly decreased in the presence of live Paramecium, indicating virus elimination.
  • Inactivated viruses did not support substantial Paramecium growth, suggesting a biological interaction beyond nutrition.
  • Picornaviruses were largely eliminated by living Paramecium, with minimal release from lysed cells after 7-9 days.

Conclusions:

  • Paramecium caudatum actively interacts with and eliminates picornaviruses from aquatic environments.
  • This ciliate shows potential as a biological agent for controlling picornavirus contamination in water.
  • Findings have implications for water management and the prevention of picornavirus-related diseases.
Keywords:
CiliateParamecium caudatumPicornavirus

More Related Videos

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae07:49

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: January 7, 2019

29.8K
Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation09:50

Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation

Published on: October 27, 2019

6.7K

Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
22.3K
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses 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...
714
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
2.3K
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
116
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus 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...
43.1K
The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR01:23

The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea that protects against viral infections. This system enables prokaryotic cells to identify, remember, and neutralize foreign genetic elements, primarily bacteriophages, by storing fragments of the invader’s DNA as a genetic memory.The CRISPR immune response begins during an initial infection. Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins play a central role in this...
1.1K