biostudies-literatureUnknownBuck CBThe initial objective of this study was to shed light on the evolution of small DNA tumor viruses by analyzing <i>de novo</i> assemblies of publicly available deep sequencing datasets. The survey generated a searchable database of contig snapshots representing more than 100,000 Sequence Read Archive records. Using modern structure-aware search tools, we iteratively broadened the search to include an increasingly wide range of other virus families. The analysis revealed a surprisingly diverse range of chimeras involving different virus groups. In some instances, genes resembling known DNA-replication modules or known virion protein operons were paired with unrecognizable sequences that structural predictions suggest may represent previously unknown replicases and novel virion architectures.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2024.03.25.586562https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11071296biostudies-literatureWidespread Horizontal Gene Transfer Among Animal Viruses.PMC11071296Belford AKBuck CBStarrett GJPastrana DVWelch NTisza MJVarsani AfalseWidespread Horizontal Gene Transfer Among Animal Viruses.The initial objective of this study was to shed light on the evolution of small DNA tumor viruses by analyzing <i>de novo</i> assemblies of publicly available deep sequencing datasets. The survey generated a searchable database of contig snapshots representing more than 100,000 Sequence Read Archive records. Using modern structure-aware search tools, we iteratively broadened the search to include an increasingly wide range of other virus families. The analysis revealed a surprisingly diverse range of chimeras involving different virus groups. In some instances, genes resembling known DNA-replication modules or known virion protein operons were paired with unrecognizable sequences that structural predictions suggest may represent previously unknown replicases and novel virion architectures.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2026-07-02T03:19:15.557Z2026-07-02T03:11:27.195ZS-EPMC110712963871225210.1101/2024.03.25.586562