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Defensive hypervariable regions confer superinfection exclusion in microviruses.

Paul C Kirchberger1, Zachary A Martinez2, Landry J Luker2

  • 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 pkirchberger@utexas.edu howard.ochman@austin.utexas.edu.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Multiple microvirus lineages independently evolved to lysogenize hosts, developing a hypervariable DNA pilot protein. This protein prevents superinfection, highlighting viral competition as a driver of convergent evolution in microviruses.

Keywords:
GokushovirinaeMicroviridaelysogenyprophage defensevirus–host interactions

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Single-stranded DNA phages (Microviridae) differ evolutionarily from double-stranded DNA phages.
  • Microviridae are prevalent in diverse ecosystems and the human gut despite genomic constraints.
  • Lysogeny and host integration are key adaptations for some microviruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate convergent evolution of lysogeny in Microviridae.
  • Determine the role of the DNA pilot protein's hypervariable region.
  • Understand the impact of viral competition on microvirus evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Created hybrid microviruses with combined genomic segments.
  • Infected Escherichia coli model system with engineered phages.
  • Analyzed the function of the DNA pilot protein's hypervariable region.

Main Results:

  • Divergent Microviridae lineages independently evolved lysogeny.
  • Hypervariable regions in the DNA pilot protein evolved convergently.
  • This region prevents superinfection by inhibiting DNA injection.

Conclusions:

  • Viral competition is a significant selective pressure driving microvirus evolution.
  • Convergent evolution of hypervariable regions in the DNA pilot protein is linked to lysogeny.
  • This mechanism contributes to the prevalence of hypervariable regions in microviruses.