A previously undescribed archaeal virus suppresses host immunity

ABSTRACT: Extremophilic archaea can have chronic viral infections that are well-tolerated by the hosts and may potentially protect against more lethal infections. Here we show that a natural Haloferax strain (48N), is chronically-infected by a lemon-shaped virus. This viral infection is not cleared spontaneously, despite the multiple defense systems of the host. Curing 48N of its virus led to radical changes in the gene expression profile of 48N and a dramatic improvement in its growth rate. Remarkably, the cured 48N is the fastest-growing haloarchaeon reported to date, with a generation time of approximately 107 minutes at 45{degree sign}C, and faster than any known Haloferax species at this temperature. The virus subverts host defenses by reducing its transcription, including the CRISPR spacer acq

SUBMITTER: Israela Turgeman-Grott 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-025-00540-3 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other