Name
Persistent dsRNA phage infection selectively excludes superinfection and promotes generation of new viral variants
Presenter
Meri Salomaa, University of Helsinki
Co-Author(s)
Meri M. Salomaa 1, Sally K. Chesnut 1, Sari Mäntynen 1 and Minna M. Poranen 1
1 Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Abstract Category
Epidemiology, Evolution, and Diversity
Abstract
Acute infections of dsRNA viruses are relatively well understood, however less is known about dsRNA virus persistence. We studied persistent infection of a bacterial dsRNA virus, cystovirus phi6, in Pseudomonas. In this virus-host interaction, intracellular viral particles are continuously produced without host cell lysis. We show that persistent dsRNA virus infection can benefit the host: persistence does not affect host growth but protects it from subsequent phi6 infections. Nevertheless, the persistently infected host remains susceptible to other cystoviruses, promoting the formation of new viral genotypes, and highlighting the importance of persistent infections in viral evolution.